Thousands of faithful gather at Pochaiv Lavra for feast of St Amphilochius

Celebrations at Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: UOC

On May 12, 2026, the Pochaiv Lavra welcomed thousands of faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for celebrations in honor of Venerable Amphilochius of Pochaiv, the UOC Information and Education Department reports.

The celebrations lasted several days. On May 10, a procession was held with the transfer of the saint’s relics to the monastery’s Transfiguration Cathedral. On May 11, a festive all-night vigil with the reading of the akathist to the saint took place in the Lavra. On May 12, Divine Liturgies were celebrated simultaneously in the monastery’s Dormition and Transfiguration cathedrals.

The celebrations were led by Metropolitan Sergiy of Ternopil and Kremenets, concelebrated by numerous hierarchs and clergy. At the end of the Liturgy, the traditional procession took place: the relics of the venerable saint were solemnly returned to the cave church, where they permanently rest.

Venerable Amphilochius – born Yakiv Varnavovych Holovatiuk, 1894–1971 – was glorified among the venerable saints in 2002. He is venerated as a man of prayer and wonderworker, whose relics are visited each year by pilgrims from across Ukraine and abroad.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that TRC officers abducted a monk of the Pochaiv Lavra.

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