More than 2 thousand faithful pray on the feast day at Svyatogorsk Lavra (PHOTO)

The solemn Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra was led by the Vicar of the monastery Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk. The Divine Liturgy was attended by more than 2 thousand parishioners and pilgrims of the monastery, reports the website of the Lavra.

More than 2 thousand people took part in the Solemn Liturgy on the feast day at the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the monastery. The attendees sang hymns in a conciliar manner, glorifying the Mother of God.

On the main feast day of the Holy Mounts, the number of believers who took communion reached 1000 people. They could receive the Sacrament from 5 bowls.

In his homily, the Vicar of Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra Metropolitan Arseny of Svyatogorsk stressed that the Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a truly Feast of the Theotokos. That is how we venerate one of the major Christian feasts of the Queen of Heaven, the day when She "to heaven with the flesh exiled." In his homily the Svyatogorsk Archbishop also told the story of the Assumption, of how miraculously all the apostles were gathered, of Apostle Thomas and an empty Gethsemane cave and finally of appearance of the Virgin to people and Her promise to always be with them (and through them - with us too)and the occurrence of the panagia title.

After the Divine Liturgy, a solemn cross procession went round the Cathedral three times with the icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the prayer processions the clergymen fourfold read Gospel, after each reading all parties crosswise were sprinkled with holy water. Upon returning to the Cathedral, the faithful sang the Magnificat.  Thanksgiving prayers in communion were followed by a festive meal.

At midnight, from 28 to 29 August, at the Holy Dormition Cathedral of the Svyatogorsk Lavra a rite of Burial Shroud of the Blessed Virgin was held.

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