From 18 to 26 August 2024, with the blessing of Belarusian Metropolitan Veniamin, the annual All-Belarusian procession of the Сross walks from Zhirovichi to Minsk. This year, it is dedicated to the 40th anniversary of celebrating the Synaxis of the Belarusian Saints.
The pilgrims walk 250 kilometres over nine days. Their route passes through four dioceses and 21 churches.
What drives these believers to walk for nine days in rain and heat, sleeping under the open sky and enduring various hardships? What is the significance of this procession? How did the idea to organise it come about? We spoke with the organiser of the procession, Sergei Meleshko.
Sergei, how did it all begin? How did the idea of the All-Belarusian procession come about?
“In Belarus, believers have been participating in processions for more than 20 years. In the past, these were usually one-day events or, alternatively, processions that lasted more than a month, making it difficult for those with jobs or families to participate for such a long time. That is why many Belarusian believers travelled to Ukraine for the Pochaev procession or to Russia for the Velikoretsky procession. We often wondered why we didn’t have a similar procession in Belarus. We talked about it for about seven years. Perhaps the time simply wasn’t right yet. As Archimandrite John (Krestyankin) once said, ‘God arranges everything in time for those who know how to wait.’
“When we returned from the Pochaev procession in 2021, we suddenly felt that the time had come. Perhaps the Lord planted this idea in our hearts. Within a day or two, we mapped out the route and developed the concept for the procession, which had been forming in our minds for a long time.
“First, it was important for us that the procession take place during the summer. We wanted young people to be able to attend, so it needed to coincide with school holidays. Second, it had to occur during a fasting period. From our experience with other processions, we noticed that the spiritual experience of prayer is different when it isn’t accompanied by fasting. The holy fathers often say that the bird of heaven has two wings: fasting and prayer. It’s hard to fly with just one wing. This is why our procession is scheduled during the Dormition fast.
“Third, we wanted the procession to occur at the same time each year and follow the same route, allowing people to prepare in advance and take time off work.
“We put our plan together and presented it to Father Alexander Shiriton, the chairman of the Synodal Pilgrimage Department, which oversees cross processions. He supported the idea, and it was brought to the Holy Synod, where it was approved. In 2022, after the outbreak of military operations in Ukraine, when Belarusians could no longer participate in the Pochaev procession and a collective prayer was urgently needed, we saw God’s Providence at work. Metropolitan Veniamin (Tupeko) said, ‘It is no big deal to walk 250 kilometres, but walking 250 kilometres with prayer is a great undertaking.’ Perhaps the prayers offered during our procession helped tip the scales, contributing to the peace we currently have in our land.”
Is the main goal of the cross procession to pray for peace in Belarus?
“Not just for Belarus, but also for Russia, Ukraine—our Holy Motherland—and our Orthodox Church. There are 21 churches along the route of the procession. Our Metropolitan has blessed the prayer services that we hold at each church we visit. During these services, we pray for peace, for the Church, and for our country. It brings tears to our eyes when we pray for these intentions as one body of believers. It might sound bold to say this, but I truly believe that the Lord will never fail to hear our prayers.”
But it is also true that everyone goes on the procession with their own personal prayer. Is it possible to combine this with communal prayer?
“Yes, each person is an individual, walking in the procession and repenting for their own sins, praying for their own intentions. However, these personal prayers do not interfere with the collective prayer; instead, they merge into it.”
You mentioned that you feel a difference when the procession does not occur during a fasting period. Can you explain what exactly is different?
“The Holy Fathers do not say, ‘Sit on the couch and receive the Holy Spirit.’ They say, ‘Give blood and receive the Spirit.’ This means being ready to make a sacrifice. Why did the Holy Fathers go into the deserts or climb onto pillars? Why did the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov pray for 1,000 days and nights on a stone in the forest? They did these things to draw closer to God, to receive the grace they sought. I have always believed that a procession of the cross should be challenging and involve some form of self-denial. Sometimes we even say among ourselves, ‘Thank God it is difficult.’ Fasting is a part of this spiritual effort. In our processions that did not include fasting, the prayer felt different. To rise above the earthly, one needs to lighten the body.
“When we went on the first All-Belarusian procession of the cross, some people who had never participated in a large procession came to me on the second day, complaining about the overwhelming burden. But a day or two later, those same people approached me, asking for forgiveness and sharing that they had received such grace that their hearts trembled. This is something that must be experienced personally. Every evening we felt as though we died, and every morning we were resurrected. It might seem like ‘madness’ to some, but there are people who love the procession and its challenges; for them, it becomes the very essence of their life.”
Is it because they don’t feel this grace anywhere else as they do in the procession?
“It becomes a necessity for them. The procession is not just about walking; it is a journey of prayer. As the Lord says, ‘Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:20). It is difficult to fully immerse oneself in prayer and undertake such a spiritual feat at home, where there are family concerns, daily worries, and work responsibilities. Here, you have a week away from the routine of everyday life.”
What was the most challenging part of preparing for the first procession?
“Before the first procession, there was an immense emotional and spiritual burden. I kept thinking, ‘How will we manage this? How will we make it through? Are people ready for this? What if we don’t succeed? What a disgrace that would be.’ I prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘Let them trample me down, let me be disgraced, as long as the procession reaches Minsk.’
“Now, I truly feel God’s Providence over our Belarusian procession. Some issues we hadn’t anticipated are being resolved—God sends the help we need and the right people. For example, we didn’t plan it, but you made a report about the procession last year, and it was very effective, bringing in new participants. One person even made a film on his phone, and thousands of people watched it and were inspired.”
How do the parishes along the route respond to accommodating 300 people?
“At first, when we approached them with such a request, they were quite taken aback—they couldn’t imagine how they would host and feed 300 people. But now, there are priests who insist on staying on our route. They tell us that the preparation for the procession, the actual gathering, and the lingering sense of community afterward bring a renewed energy to their parishes. There are even small villages that welcome us with great joy.
“In truth, we don’t need much. We never expect fancy meals—some porridge and a cucumber are enough for most of us.
“I often think back to the Pochaev procession—my first love, which will remain with me for the rest of my life. In that small village, 20-30 thousand people would arrive, and it seemed impossible to feed them all. Yet they brought out large pots of porridge, people sat in the stadium with bowls, and everyone ate. How did they manage it? It felt like the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves in the Gospel.
“In the early Pochaev processions, there weren’t even organized meals. When I went on my second procession, I had only a loaf of bread and a bottle of water with me. We were given some food before setting out, and then I walked for three days on just bread and water. On the evening of the third day, someone gave me a cucumber. I sat down and thought, ‘Today, I’m having a feast with bread and a cucumber—what more do I need?’ Now, when I hear people complaining about not getting coffee during the procession, I tell them, ‘What can you do to get off the ground? Try to humble yourself a little, go without coffee for a week, and I believe the Lord will take notice.'”
How did you first join a procession?
“It must have been a kind of calling. A friend of mine had spent a few days at the Pochaev procession, and after hearing her story, my heart was set ablaze. I knew it was something I needed to experience, so I decided to go without even bringing a sleeping bag or a tent. I thought, ‘Whatever God wills, that’s what will happen.’
“I arrived on the second day and found a village on the route. I barely made it there, and while I waited for the procession to arrive, I suddenly felt a shift in the air—a light breeze—and then I saw the procession coming. I felt a shiver run through my body; it felt like a great force was approaching.
“I remember my first night in a civic center: the women slept on the wooden floors, and I was on a concrete floor in the hallway. I lay down without anything to sleep on, but I felt like I was in paradise. The next day, as I continued with the procession, I realized that, despite being physically fit and having done sports, I could barely walk. I was struggling, out of breath, sitting down and unable to get up. I couldn’t understand why: older ladies and children were walking, but I couldn’t. Still, I resolved to keep going, even if I had to crawl on my knees. By the third day, I felt better, and it never happened again.
“It was a challenging procession—we walked for a week—but during that time, we became like a family. When we finally reached Pochaev Lavra, and they came out to greet us, I saw tears in the eyes of my fellow walkers; the grace was overwhelming. I experienced a special, joyful state of grace for eight months afterward. I thought it would stay with me forever, but eventually, it faded. In the following processions, it wasn’t quite the same. The Lord allowed me to feel that grace just once.”
Why do you think such grace was given to you? Why do some people feel it while others don’t?
“There are probably many factors at play. God can bestow grace on someone who needs it, without any specific reason. But I believe that a person must also have a spirit of repentance. I’m deeply convinced that it is impossible to receive grace without some effort or sacrifice. I even used to tell those who joined me on processions not to bring tents or sleeping bags—trust that the Lord will provide.”
Do you still travel without tents or sleeping bags?
“Not anymore, especially now that I travel with my children. But when I went on my own, I didn’t bring anything. I wanted to suffer for my sins; my soul was burning with the desire to make amends. I had done so much wrong in my life, and I wanted to do something for God. I spent the nights wherever God led me, and those were some of the most wonderful nights—I still remember them! One of the best memories is finding a haystack to sleep in, burying myself in it, seeing the starry sky, reciting the Jesus Prayer, and falling asleep. It was an incredible experience.
“During one of the processions, I met a Ukrainian man, and we became friends. We ended up walking together a lot. In Ukraine, there is a lot of dew at night, and it can get quite cold, with temperatures dropping to 2°C, while during the day it’s very hot. We didn’t take any warm clothes, just a plastic sheet to cover ourselves from the dew. There were times when we woke up at two in the morning, our teeth chattering from the cold, and we would start making bows just to keep warm.”
How did the tradition of receiving Communion every day during the procession come about?
“When we first planned the route, we didn’t intend to have the Divine Liturgy celebrated every day. We thought we would only have it at the end, much like the Pochaev procession, where people would be moved to tears receiving Holy Communion after such a long journey.
“But the practice of cross processions is still relatively new in Belarus, and we may not be ready for that level of austerity yet. So, Metropolitan Veniamin blessed us to have the Liturgy every day. I believe this is the right decision for us. Many participants have told me that without the daily Divine Liturgy and Communion, they wouldn’t have made it. The cross procession is a unique opportunity to receive Communion every day over nine days, allowing us to step away from everyday concerns and immerse ourselves in prayer.”
What stories from your experience with processions have impressed you the most?
“For me, the greatest miracle is when a person’s soul is transformed, when it comes to life and has the chance to find the Kingdom of God. I believe that even if only one sinner repents and their soul is saved, it is worth the entire procession going through these nine days.
“Here’s an example from the last procession. We arrived at the village of Molchad on our third night and were preparing to spend it in a boarding school. There was a man there, a night watchman, I think. He was overwhelmed by the number of people and started arguing with everyone, refusing to let them in and giving them a hard time. By morning, he joined us on the procession, wearing only what he had on. We gave him some shoes and clothes, and during the procession, he confessed and received Holy Communion for the first time in his life. This is a miracle—a miracle of transformation of the human soul.
“We also have a woman in her 70s who walks the entire procession. What strength helps her do that? Meanwhile, I’ve seen young athletes in their 20s drop out after just two days. You begin to understand that you are entering a spiritual realm where different rules apply: the well-trained may leave, but those who trust in God and are unprepared often make it to the end.
“My eldest son has been joining me on processions since he was six years old; he’s 13 now. He has a friend who is not particularly close to the Church. This friend asked if he could join the procession for just one day, out of curiosity, but he ended up staying until the end. Later, he wondered, ‘What was that feeling? Why such joy and lightness?’ We explained to him that there is a word for it: ‘grace’. He had experienced it. This year, he plans to join the entire procession, and many of his other friends are coming too.
“To me, the procession is a unique phenomenon. It’s not just a pilgrimage or a festival; it stands apart because of the dedication and effort of the people involved. Hard work, sweat, prayer, and vigilance—this is the tradition we return to through the procession. It may be hard to understand unless you go and experience it yourself. But if you do go, endure, and complete it, everyone will understand and feel what we’re talking about.
“The number of participants in the procession is growing. We expect 400-500 people this year. People have discovered its true essence, and they don’t want to miss out. Now, they’re bringing their relatives along as well.”
So, those who have experienced it are likely to go again?
“Yes, those who are truly inspired often return. People ignite each other’s hearts with their fervor and introduce newcomers to the procession. There are families who might come with one child the first year and bring all their children the next. The number of icons brought by the dioceses is also growing. Each diocese brings its locally venerated icons: for example, the Slutsk Diocese brings an icon of Saint Sophia of Slutsk, the Minsk Diocese brings one of Saint Valentina of Minsk, the Novogrudok Diocese brings a copy of the Zhirovichi icon, and the Brest Diocese brings an icon of the Venerable Martyr Athanasius of Brest. It’s like a full assembly of Belarusian saints is coming together. And this year marks the 40th anniversary of the celebration of the Synaxis of Belarusian Saints. We made a large icon for this occasion, so all the Belarusian saints will be traveling with us.”
During the procession, people’s weaknesses come out. It’s not always peaceful—there can be irritation or even conflicts over icons. It seems like we’re going to pray, but we bring our own shortcomings. How do we confront these?
“One of the unique aspects of the procession is the opportunity it provides to see our own flaws, repent, and work on overcoming them. Indeed, all our sins are hidden in the heart, and in ordinary life, a person might not notice them. But during the procession, everything comes out. If a person is attentive, they will recognize it. Everyone experiences irritation, impatience, and lack of restraint, but we ask for forgiveness and continue on.”
Suppose someone wants to join the procession, but they look at the route, see it covers 40 kilometers a day, and think they’ll never make it. What should they do?
“In that case, it’s important to stop overthinking, because our minds can be deceptive. Don’t focus on the distance or calculate how much you can walk—just come to the procession. As soon as a person steps into the procession, earthly laws seem to end, and spiritual laws begin to take over. Older people walk 30-40 kilometers a day and don’t even understand how they do it. People with cancer are walking. You have to stop analyzing and just go. Everything that needs to happen will happen in due time.
“I tell everyone: ‘As soon as you decide to join the procession, you might face many temptations before it starts. Just set everything aside and keep moving forward.’ Often, people join with unresolved issues, but when they return, everything seems to be sorted out. When you surrender yourself to God, everything else falls into place. We see many people announce their participation each year, but not all of them actually come—we know this from the diocesan lists. Even this year, a week before the procession, many people are backing out. ‘Many are invited, but few are chosen’ (cf. Matthew 22:14).”
Some people take time off work for the entire procession, while others join for just a day. Is there a difference?
“It’s best to participate for as long as possible, ideally the entire procession. But one must be careful not to become prideful. It’s like going to a bathhouse—you can drop in for a few minutes and think you’ve bathed, or you can stay longer for a thorough cleansing. Going through the whole procession is like having a deep, cleansing bath. If you only come for a couple of hours, you’ll still experience something, but it won’t be the same. I think you need to stay for at least three or four days for the soul to ‘thaw’ and become ‘softer.'”
Perhaps it’s better not to plan too rigidly how many days you’ll stay. Shouldn’t we leave some room for God?
“Yes, a person’s will is important, and then God will take care of the rest. It’s essential to come with an open heart, and the Lord will provide: those who need to leave will leave, and those meant to stay until the end will remain. Allow God to act in your life, and He will put everything in its place.”
Why should anyone join a procession of the Cross?
“To draw closer to God. In difficult situations, human souls instinctively feel drawn to the procession. Why this is so remains a mystery to me. Maybe by the end of my life, I will be able to give a clearer answer about what the procession truly is and why it has such a unique power. Maybe someday the Lord will reveal it to us.
“But one thing I do know is that a procession is like a pillar of light reaching up to the sky.”
Translated by The Catalogue of Good Deeds
Source: https://obitel-minsk.ru/lutschije/2024/08/mesto-bogu
