Main shrine of Sviatohirsk Lavra prayerfully honored

Sviatohirsk Lavra. Photo: monastery website

On July 30, 2025, the Dormition Sviatohirsk Lavra celebrated its main shrine—the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God “Sviatohirska” – with the Divine Liturgy and a cross procession around the monastery. This was reported by the Lavra’s press service.

The festive services began the evening before, on July 29.

“At the start of the service, the wonderworking icon of the Mother of God, adorned with flowers, was placed in the center of the cathedral opposite the Royal Doors. The flowers used to decorate the icon were purchased with donations from faithful who love the Queen of Heaven and her monastery. The floral arrangement was prepared by the sisters of the Lavra’s Skete of the ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon of the Mother of God,” the press service noted.

During the evening service, an akathist hymn to the Mother of God was sung before the Sviatohirska icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. At 4:00 p.m., a festive all-night vigil began in the Lavra’s Dormition Cathedral.

On the feast day itself, the Divine Liturgy was officiated by Archbishop Paisios of Kostiantynivka, vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis. He was concelebrated by the brethren of the monastery and visiting clergy.

Liturgical hymns were performed by the Lavra’s brotherhood choirs under the direction of Archimandrite Arseny (Vaniushyn) and Archimandrite Raphael (Popov).

Praying in the cathedral alongside the brotherhood were Abbess Theodosia (Melnikova) of St. Sergius Convent, sisters of the Lavra’s sketes dedicated to the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” Icon and St. John of Shanghai, as well as refugees currently living in the Lavra.

All participants of the feast received Holy Communion. The faithful were communed from five chalices.

After the Divine Liturgy, the traditional cross procession took place. The wonderworking Sviatohirska icon of the Mother of God was carried around the Lavra in prayer. It was then returned to the Dormition Cathedral. Along the route, a memorial litia was served at the gravesite of the brotherhood members killed during the shelling on June 1, 2022.

The festive day concluded with the Panagia rite and a celebratory meal, which, by tradition, the Lavra brotherhood shared with all their guests.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the abbot of the Sviatohirsk Lavra, Metropolitan Arseny, remains in pre-trial detention despite the expiration of his imposed restrictions.

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