UOC Primate performs rite of burial of Theotokos Shroud at Lavra

The Rite of the Burial of the Shroud of the Most Holy Theotokos. Photo: Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC

On the Feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry officiated at the concelebrated evening service at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra with the rite of burial of the Shroud of the Mother of God, reports the Kyiv Metropolis of the UOC.

The Primate was co-served by the UOC Chancellor, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, the head of the UOC Information and Educational Department, Metropolitan Clement of Nizhyn and Pryluky, Metropolitan Filaret of Lviv and Halych, Archbishop Spyridon of Dobropillia, Archbishop Spyridon of Vyshnevе, Archbishop Mark of Borodianka, Bishop Panteleimon of Baturyn, and the clergy of the monastery.

Liturgical sources date the origin of the rite of the Burial of the Shroud to approximately the 15th or 16th century. The shortened form of the rite, known as the “Praises” (the singing of troparia and the reading of the 17th Kathisma), was traditionally performed by the clergy of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra together with the festive service.

During the modern service, the clergy carry the Shroud of the Mother of God to the center of the church and sing the troparia of the Jerusalem rite over it, after which they carry the Shroud in a procession around the church.

As the UOJ reported, the Sviatohirsk Lavra celebrated the patronal feast of the monastery.

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