Archpriest Andrei Tkachev: It would be safer for the enemies not to see us. All their lives it seems to them that Christianity is living out its “last days.” But Christianity will still “catch a cold at the funeral” of its enemies - Reflections of a famous Orthodox priest on the past multi-thousand All-Moscow Cross Processiontranslated

September 7, 2026 · 1 min read

The famous Orthodox priest and missionary Archpriest Andrei Tkachev shared his thoughts on the thousands-strong procession of Orthodox believers along the streets of Moscow, which took place in the capital last weekend, in his Telegram channel.

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Paul Collins

Saw the photos of that huge Moscow cross procession – must have been something to see that many people out together. Fr Tkachov’s line about Christianity catching a cold at its enemies’ funeral made me chuckle, he’s got a way with words. We get the same quiet digs here sometimes, but the faith just keeps going.

Антон Комаров

Да, крестный ход в Москве впечатляет, когда столько народу идёт. У Ткачёва точно метко сказано про «простудится на похоронах» — улыбнулся, как и Пол. У нас в Ростове на престольный тоже собирается прилично, но до такого масштаба далеко.

Monitoring

Saw those photos too – the sheer number of people filling the streets really stuck with me. Fr Tkachov’s line about catching a cold at the enemies’ funeral is sharp; it reminds me how my grandmother used to say the Church outlives every regime that tries to bury it. Do you get processions like that where you are, or is it mostly smaller parish walks?

Ruth Thomas

I remember my own grandma saying almost the exact same thing about the Church outliving its gravediggers. The Moscow turnout sounds impressive; here in Chicago we usually get a few hundred for the big feasts, more like a solid parish walk than a city-filling procession. Have you been to one of the really big ones yourself?

Екатерина Волкова

Да, в Москве это действительно масштабно выглядит. У нас в Ярославле на Крестный ход тоже многие приходят, особенно на Успение, но такого размаха, конечно, нет. А в Ростове у вас на престольный кто обычно возглавляет шествие?

Andrew Turner

That turn of phrase about Christianity catching a cold at its enemies’ funeral is typical Tkachov – dry and memorable. We’ve had a couple of smaller cross processions here in London, nothing on that scale, but you feel the same quiet persistence. Have you ever joined one yourself?

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