Pridnestrovie has revived the Orthodox tradition of religious processions on-water. Clergy led by Archbishop of Tiraspol and Dubossary Sawa along with government officials and staff, traveled 12 kilometers along the Dniester River from Bendery to Mereneshty in prayer. About fifteen boats and motorboats took part in the procession across the river.
The river procession was welcomed by the PMR President and his wife. The religious procession continued on foot to its final destination then: the "Dnestrovskie Zori" health resort, where vacationers joined the participants. Dedicated to the memory of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh the event concluded with a festive prayer service conducted by Archbishop Sawa.
The PMR President Vadim Krasnoselsky thanked the initiators, organizers, and participants of the procession for reviving a good tradition that had once lapsed but was fortunately not lost as today’s event demonstrated. Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that there were only four active Orthodox churches in the territory when the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic was established; today. There are approximately 140 churches. The churches are being restored and built from the ground up at the behest of the republic's residents and with their direct involvement, the PMR President noted.
