Thousands of believers come to Pochaiv Lavra to pray to the Mother of God
The main cathedral of the Pochaiv Lavra, 20 April 2024. Photo: a Facebook video screenshot
On 20 April 2024, the day of the Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos, the UOC hierarchs performed festive services at the Dormition Lavra of Pochaiv. Thousands of believers traditionally came to venerate the Mother of God in the holy monastery. The video of the divine services was published on the Lavra's Facebok page.
On the feast day, the Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets. He was concelebrated by Metropolitan Volodymyr of Pochaiv, Metropolitan Nathanael of Volyn and Lutsk, Rector of Pochaiv Theological Seminary Archbishop Job of Shumsk, Bishop Athanasiy of Kamin-Kashyrskyi and numerous high-ranked guests.
As can be seen in the video, the churches of the monastery are overcrowded.
During the Liturgy, prayers were offered for peace in the Ukrainian land, for deliverance from the enemy, for the Lord to protect those who are in despair and have lost their homes and to bless people who help the needy.
Prayers were also raised for all fallen Ukrainian soldiers, civilians innocently killed during the war and for all deceased Orthodox Christians.
On Saturday in the fifth week of Great Lent, the Holy Church solemnly proclaims the prayerful singing of the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos. It is believed that the Akathist to the Theotokos appeared after the year 626, when Constantinople was besieged by the Persians. During the siege, the people sought refuge in God's temples, day and night entreating the Most Holy Intercessor to save their city, and Patriarch Sergius carried the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos on the city walls. After the miraculous salvation of the city, this hymn was composed, glorifying the Mother of God: "To you, O Champion Leader, we your servants dedicate a feast of victory and thanksgiving, as those rescued from sufferings, O Theotokos; but since you possess invincible might, free us from all dangers that we may cry to you: ‘Rejoice, unwedded Bride.’”
As reported, His Beatitude led a special service with Akathist to Our Lady in Feofania.
Read also
"Stigmatization based on faith": DESS reprimands TSN for story about Muslims
DESS criticized TSN because "the investigation in the "1+1" news story immediately took on an accusatory bias, and the accused themselves were not given a voice."
His Beatitude Onuphry: Through fasting, man returns to Paradise
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry reminded the faithful about Adam's fall and urged them to repent before Great Lent.
Archbishop of Greece speaks about his successor and the Church's future
On the occasion of the 18th anniversary of his leadership of the Greek Church, the Primate gave an interview in which he spoke about relations with the state, the situation in Sinai, and the challenges of the modern world.
In Barcelona, Sagrada Familia’s central tower completed after 144 years
In Barcelona, a glass cross was installed on the Sagrada Familia temple, completing the central tower and bringing the building to the height of 172.5 meters.
On Forgiveness Sunday, His Beatitude Onuphry celebrates Liturgy at Lavra
During Cheesefare Week, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry celebrated the Liturgy at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, addressed the flock with a sermon, and offered prayers for peace and the preservation of Ukraine's people.
In Hnidyn, St. Nicholas Church of UOC damaged by shelling
As a result of shelling, the St. Nicholas Church of the UOC in the village of Hnidyn of the Boryspil Eparchy was damaged.