His Holiness Patriarch Kirill Visits Pochayiv Lavra

On August 4, 2009 the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church arrived to the Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra.

At the holy gates of the famous abode His Holiness the Patriarch was met by His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kyiv and All Ukraine, Deputy Abbot of Lavra, Bishop Vladimir of Pochayiv, archpastors and clergymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, monastery brethren.

In the monastery and at the hills of the Mount of Pochayiv tens thousands of believers gathered from all over Ukraine, as well as from Russia, Moldova, Belarus and other countries. They met the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with exclamations of greeting “Our Patriarch is Kirill”. On his way to the Cathedral of Dormition His Holiness the Patriarch stopped and blessed the pilgrims, talked to them.

In the church dedicated to the Holy Dormition of the Theotokos His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia bowed unto the shrines of Lavra – the Foot of the Mother of God and the Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv.
With the words of greeting the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir addressed to His Holiness the Patriarch.

In his response His Holinessthe Patriarch noted, in particular that having come to the Pochayiv Lavra, he touched with great awe this great shrine of the Holy Rus. He thanked the monastery brethren for the firm standing in faith and called everyone to pray for the church unity.

Thereafter the All-Night Vigil service was held at the Dormition Cathedral, which opened the church celebration of the 450th anniversary of bringing the Wonderworking icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv to Ukrainian lands.

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