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.

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