Svitovit Pashnik

Svitovit Pashnik, a leader of RUN-VERA (Native Ukrainian folk faith based on heathen and Orthodox traditions), performs a religious rite-prayer before the beginning of Cossack competitions during the eighth International Fest of Cossack Martial and Traditional Art on island Khortitsa, Zaporozhye, Sunday, August 1, 2004. The eighth International Fest of Cossack Martial and Traditional Art has been held in Zaporozhye on July 30-August 1. Cossacks-sportsmen from many regions of Ukraine and also Russia and Byelorussia demonstrated their skills in martial art. Photo by UNIAN