Lavra's empty Dormition Cathedral shown online during patronal vigil
Vigil of the OCU in the Lavra on the Feast of the Transfiguration. Photo: Fortress Lavra Telegram channel
On August 14, 2025, footage appeared online showing the empty Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra during the OCU’s all-night vigil on the eve of the Dormition (according to the New Calendar) – the monastery’s patronal feast. The Telegram channel "Fortress Lavra" published photos and videos showing that there were about ten people in the church. Some of them were employees of the TV channel broadcasting the service. Others, judging by their clothing, appeared to be visitors to the reserve who had entered the cathedral to view the site.
The video captured the polyeleos – the central part of the vigil, when the church is usually especially full. But apart from “the OCU Lavra abbot” Lotysh and several of his colleagues, there was no one else in the center of the cathedral.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in 2023 it had published photos and videos of an OCU all-night vigil in the Lavra’s Refectory Church, at which only four people were present.
Read also
His Beatitude tonsures fourth-year KDAiS students as readers
On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross in Great Lent, the Primate of the UOC presided over the divine services at Holosiiv Monastery.
UN: By 2050, Ukraine will become the world leader in youth shortage
According to the organization’s report, the share of young people in the country’s population will place Ukraine first in the global anti-ranking.
OCU сleric in Kosmach seizes his own church as parish rejects new calendar
With police support and the backing of the village council head, the “priest” cut off the locks on the church with an angle grinder and threatened dissenting parishioners with forced mobilization.
Euthanasia-caused deaths in Canada reach 100,000
Record mortality figures under the state-run MAiD program have made euthanasia the fifth leading cause of death among citizens.
Persecuted UOC parish in Tovtry celebrates Holy Unction Sacrament
The faithful of the Dormition parish, deprived of their church by OCU supporters, gathered for common prayer in an adapted space during Great Lent.
Monastic tonsure performed in Khust Eparchy
At the St. Seraphim Men’s Monastery in the city of Rakhiv, Bishop Mark performed a monastic tonsure.