Thousands of believers honor the miraculous Theotokos Icon in Pochaiv Lavra
Believers come in processions and arrive at the abode of the Mother of God these days to offer their prayers and receive what they ask for.
On August 5, the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra held solemn services on the day of the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos 'Pochaiv', the monastery's Telegram channel reported.
"People from different corners of Ukraine come to the abode of the Mother of God on this day to offer their prayers and receive what they ask for. A significant number of pilgrims take on a greater feat and come to the Lavra by foot processions for the day of the Pochaiv icon," the message says.
The celebration in Pochaiv began on August 3. According to tradition, on this day, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God was transferred from the Dormition Cathedral to the Transfiguration Cathedral, where the main festive services took place.
On the eve of the feast, a vigil with an Akathist hymn was held before the miraculous icon of the Theotokos in the Transfiguration Cathedral. Then, prayers with the Akathist were conducted before the icon late into the night while numerous believers venerated the shrine. Orthodox youth on the monastery grounds praised the Mother of God with spiritual hymns.
The Divine Liturgy on the feast day was led by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets. The bishop was concelebrated by bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the brotherhood of the Lavra, and guests in holy orders from various UOC dioceses. Thousands of believers participated in the celebration.
During the Divine Liturgy, prayers were offered for the Lord to grant peace to our native land and to protect the Ukrainian people in their trials.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Klyment of Nizhyn and Pryluky addressed the believers with a sermon. Then Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets congratulated the congregation on the feast, thanked the abbot and the brethren of the monastery for preserving the shrine, and wished everyone to remain in the love of the Mother of God.
After the festive liturgy, the archpastors, pastors, brothers of the monastery, and pilgrims solemnly carried the miraculous icon in a procession back to the Dormition Cathedral, where the icon is usually located above the Royal Doors. There, a festive moleben with a prayer to the Theotokos was held.
"There are many testimonies and confirmations of the healing power of the miraculous Pochaiv icon. It saves from deadly diseases, from physical and spiritual blindness. The Mother of God is asked for healing from physical ailments and protection from visible and invisible enemies," they noted in the Pochaiv Lavra.
As reported previously, on August 1, the Lavra welcomed Orthodox cross-walkers from Volyn, and on August 4, a procession arrived at the Pochaiv monastery from the Ternopil diocese.
