Russian Orthodox Church Holds Prayer Service Against Drone Attacks in Perm

Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church in the Russian city of Perm has held a religious procession and prayer service to protect the city from Ukrainian drone attacks. Recently, as drone attacks have increased in the city, the local diocese, the Perm branch of the Russian Orthodox Church, has sought security through religious means.

On May 12, several priests of the church carried the religious icon "Mother of God of Perm" through various sensitive locations in the city. During this procession, the priests went to the chapel in the Bannaya Gora cemetery, the Perm hydroelectric power station, and the cross at the entrance to the Kirovsky district, a chapel in a cemetery, the Perm hydroelectric power station, and a crossroads at the entrance to the Kirovsky district to pray for the city's security.

'Our city has recently seen many drone attacks, and to mitigate this disaster, the metropolitan of Perm organized a prayer service. Why the "Mother of God of Perm" icon? Because it is a locally revered icon, connected to our region, and its worship was recently restored,' the diocese stated. The press service of the Perm Diocese claimed that the tradition of carrying religious relics or icons around the city is an old practice done during difficult times such as 'social crises, epidemics, wars, or foreign invasions.'

They also stated that there are examples in history where 'crises were averted' through faith and prayer after such religious processions. A similar religious procession was also held during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the current situation is related to drone attacks, many have viewed this practice as unusual or merely symbolic.