Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra brotherhood honors memory of Hieromartyr Volodymyr

Service at the Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra on the feast day of Hieromartyr Volodymyr (Bogoyavlensky). Photo: lavra.ua

On 7 February 2026, the Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra prayerfully marked the day of remembrance of the first hierarch–new martyr of the twentieth century – Hieromartyr Volodymyr (Bogoyavlensky), Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halych, the monastery’s press service reported.

On the eve of the feast, the Lavra brethren celebrated an all-night vigil with litiya in the Church of St Agapit of the Caves, led by Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, the Chancellor of the UOC. He was concelebrated by the monastery brotherhood and clergy from various eparchies.

On the feast day itself, the Divine Liturgy was led by Bishop Arkadiy of Hostomel, together with the monastery clergy.

After the service, in front of the festal icon of Hieromartyr Volodymyr, the glorification was sung and a prayer was offered.

The Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra also recalled the archpastor’s final moments, when, before being shot, he blessed his killers with the words: “May the Lord forgive you.”

During an examination of Metropolitan Volodymyr’s body, a forensic physician found a gunshot wound to the right side of the head, two wounds in the area of the right clavicle, a cut wound (from a bayonet) to the back of the head, and several stab wounds to the face, abdomen, and chest. The shots to the head were fired at point-blank range, as indicated by soot on the white klobuk. Metropolitan Volodymyr became the first hierarch among the new martyrs who suffered at the hands of the godless in the twentieth century, the monastery said.

As the UOJ reported, on 6 February, during a prayer vigil at the walls of the Kyiv–Pechersk Lavra, a UOC priest urged the faithful to reflect on each Christian’s personal responsibility before God. As an example, the pastor recalled Hieromartyr Volodymyr, who “gave everything he could on his pastoral and episcopal path.”

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