Dormition Holiday at Pochaev Lavra gathered tens of thousands believers (PHOTO)

Tens of thousands believers arrived at the Dedication Holiday to take part in the festivities on the occasion of the Dormition of the Holy Virgin at the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra. It is reported by the Lavra’s site.

Festivities dedicated to the Dormition Holiday were commenced on the Holy Mount on August 27. During the solemn Procession across the territory the Epitaphios of the Mother of God was transferred from the Holy Trinity to the Transfiguration Lavra’s Cathedral where there were held small vespers with Acathistos to the Holy Virgin.

In the Transfiguration Cathedral night vespers were held at which pilgrims kissed the Holy Virgin’s shroud and were anointed. At 1 a.m. a festive all-night Divine Liturgy began.

On August 28 there was conducted a second Divine Liturgy that was led by His Eminence Feodor, Metropolitan of Kamenets-Podolsky and Gorodok. After Gospel-reading Vladyka Feodor addressed the praying with a sermon. 

Upon the end of the festive Divine Liturgy the Epitaphios of the Mother of God was taken back to the Dormition Cathedral where the Holy Gospel and prayer were read. It was followed by father superior of the Pochaev Lavra, Vladyka Vladimir’s congratulating His Eminences, the clergy and pilgrims on the holiday.

It will be reminded that on the eve of the holiday over 20 thousand pilgrims arrived in the Cross Procession at the Pochaev Lavra.