Commemoration of 450th anniversary of bringing the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God to Volyn

On August 5, 2009, on the commemoration of the Icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv, the unprecedented number of pilgrims arrived from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

The Divine Liturgy was conducted by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in concelebration of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, clergymen of several dioceses.

The believers and monastery brethren prayed in the square of Lavra.
The Divine Liturgy was accompanied by singing of three choirs: one academic and two brethren choirs.

In the sermon after the Gospel readings His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia greeted all those attending on the great feast of the icon, about the wonderful healings from which we know not through hearsay. Also the Patriarch reminded to those present that this year the 350th anniversary of invention of the relics of the Venerable Job of Pochayiv is celebrated.

Explaining the passage from the Gospel read during the divine liturgy on that day (Gospels of Luke, episode about Martha and Maria), the First Hierarch pointed out the main idea: the sense of earthy existence, the basic value of being is combination of the prayer, faith and labor.

In his word His Holiness noted that now the people rely too much on their forces, on the power of money and reminded what the attempts to build happy society without faith result in. “Combination of faith and labor, heavens and earth from the cross showing the way to the whole world, which we are to follow”, His Holiness emphasized.
The Patriarch addressed to Ukraine with an appeal to keep faith, to restore unity of the Church, without which salvation is impossible.

His Holiness addressed his appeal not to yield the temptation of idolatry to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, the countries which from the spiritual space of the Holy Rus. From the Holy Mount of Pochayiv the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed Europe calling it not to repeat an attempt to build the society without God”. In his sermon the Patriarch also referred to the crisis, underscoring that it rooted in the “negligence of morals”.

After the liturgical service His Holiness the Patriarch consecrated the 6-ton bell, manufactured in the memory of appearance of the Mother of God on the mount of Pochayiv. Soon the bell will be installed at the main bell tower of Lavra.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir addressed the Patriarch with a greeting word, thanking His Holiness for the possibility of common prayer during these 10 days. “It will never be forgotten”, mentioned the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Also His Beatitude underscored that he realized the complexity of the situation in the Ukrainian Church, but he expressed hope for improvement of this situation through the joint prayers.

As a keepsake of the liturgical service in Pochayiv Lavra His Beatitude made the Patriarch the present of a copy of the icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv and conferred on him the order in honor of the 450th anniversary of bringing the icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv to the lands of Volyn.

In his word to the faithful His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted that all the 10 days of the visit were filled with sincere prayer. “That is what I was aiming at”, said His Holiness.
Also His Holiness expressed his certainty which he acquired during 10 days of the visit: “The Church of Christ is invincible, indestructible, and inexterminable”, stated His Holiness. “The power of faith of the Ukrainian people is the very force capable of changing the people’s lives for the better.”

The Patriarch thanked for the love, sincerity and prayerful support of all who gathered at the divine service. “May the Lord save Ukraine, renew the people’s faith, keep the unity of the Church”, said the Primate of the Russian Church. He also stated that leaving Ukraine he left a particle of his heart in this land.

His Holiness made a gift of the Icon of the Savior as a keepsake of the joint prayer. His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir was bestowed on a panagia as a gift of the Patriarch. His Holiness blessed to distribute between the faithful the icons of the Holy and Equal-to-the–Apostles Prince Vladimir.

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