Pochaev, Ternopil Province, Ukraine, August 7, 2026
Photo: uoc-news.church
Thousands of faithful gathered at the Holy Dormition-Pochaev Lavra on August 5 to mark the feast of the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, just two weeks after Ukrainian authorities moved to brand the monastery a subdivision of the Russian Orthodox Church—a step paving the way toward the Lavra’s closure.
Many of the pilgrims walked for days, forming cross processions from various starting points across Ukraine to reach the holy site in time for the feast. Authorities, meanwhile, are calling for all participants in these processions to be investigated.
Photo: uoc-news.church
The All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy in the Lavra’s Holy Transfiguration Cathedral were led by His Eminence Metropolitan Sergei of Ternopil and Kremenets. Hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, including the pesercuted abbot of the Kiev Caves Lavra His Eminence Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod, the Pochaev Lavra’s brotherhood, and clergy guests from various dioceses of the UOC concelebrated with him, reports the UOC’s Information-Education Department.
Prayers were offered for peace in Ukraine, for the country’s defenders, and for God’s blessing on the Ukrainian people.
After the Liturgy, a large procession carried the icon of the Mother of God back to the Dormition Cathedral, where it normally resides in a shrine above the Royal Doors.
Photo: uoc-news.church
At the close of the celebrations, the Lavra’s abbot, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Pochaev, greeted the bishops, clergy, and faithful on the feast day. Metropolitan Sergei then spoke on behalf of the assembled hierarchs, congratulating Metropolitan Vladimir on 30 years of service as abbot of the Lavra.
The celebration comes amid an intensifying campaign against the monastery by the Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience (DESS).
The Lavra was given a month either to leave the UOC—which would render it schismatic—or face a lawsuit aimed at forcing its closure.
Follow OrthoChristian on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, and MeWe!
