After several drone strikes were reported in the city of Perm, the local diocese decided to lend a hand in keeping the potentially lethal flying contraptions away. Although Ukrainian drones have been evolving at an extremely rapid pace, straining Russian air defenses to their limit, the Russian Orthodox Church believes there is one thing they can’t bypass – prayer.
On May 12, several priests of the local diocese toured the icon of the Mother of God of Perm through the city, stopping at key points, like the chapel in the Bannaya Gora cemetery, the Perm hydroelectric power station, and the cross at the entrance to the Kirovsky district, to pray for the safety of the city.
“Our city has recently seen several drone strikes, and to alleviate this scourge, the head of the Perm Metropolitanate held a prayer service. Why the Perm Icon of the Mother of God? Because it’s a locally venerated icon, connected to our region, and its veneration was recently restored,” the diocese explained.
“The ancient tradition of enclosing holy relics around cities and villages occurs during periods of complex historical events, significant social upheavals, epidemics, and foreign invasions,” the Perm Diocese press service added. “History knows of many cases when, through the prayers of believers, during the bringing of especially revered relics, and religious processions, the Lord sent His mercy and help, delivering from enemy invasions, misfortunes, and epidemics.”
The last time a similar procession was held in Perm was during the COVID-19 pandemic, but this time around it seems even more ridiculous, due to the nature of the “scourge”.
