Kiev, July 24, 2023
Photo: news.church.ua
Thousands of faithful Orthodox Christians filled the Holy Dormition-Kiev Caves Lavra over the weekend for the feast of St. Anthony, who co-founded the holy monastery together with St. Theodosius in the 11th century.
Unfortunately, the services could not be celebrated in the Sts. Anthony and Theodosius Refectory Church, which the state has blocked the Church from using since January.
On Saturday night, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine and a host of Ukrainian Orthodox hierarchs and clerics celebrated the All-Night Vigil in the Lavra’s Church of St. Agapit of the Caves, reports the Information-Department of the UOC.
Photo: news.church.ua
And yesterday, Met. Onuphry and the accompanying hierarchs and clerics celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast on the square near the Near Caves. The service was sung by the student choir of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary.
Thousands of Orthodox Christians came to celebrate the memory of the founder of their beloved monastery.
During the service, prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine and for mercy for the suffering. Prayers were also offered for the abbot of the Lavra, His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, to be released from bonds.
Following the Liturgy, the hierarchs, clergy, monastics, and laity processed to the Far Caves, where a moleben to St. Anthony was served.
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