Pochaev Lavra
Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra
Ukraine, Pochaiv
Pochaev Holy Assumption Lavra is located in the west of Ukraine, 70 km from the city of Ternopil and 24 km from the city of Kremenets. The Lavra is located on a high rocky mountain, the height of which is more than 75 m. The mountain is surrounded on three sides by the town of Novy Pochaev.
The first historical information about the Lavra dates back to the beginning of the 13th century, when Batu Khan captured Kyiv. The Kiev-Pechersk monks go to Volyn in search of shelter and find it on a rocky mountain covered with dense forest, where they settle. Then the Mother of God appeared to them, leaving a trace of her right foot on the stone, from which healing water began to flow. Rumors about this phenomenon gather more and more Christians here for prayer, some of them remain, become monks and build the Holy Dormition Church.
In 1597, the monastery received as a gift from the local landowner Anna Goyskaya significant land plots, estates and the most expensive treasure - the miraculous image of the Mother of God. And a new era begins in its long and glorious history. Job Zhelezo, who lived exactly one hundred years, becomes hegumen of the monastery. He was a wise man with unparalleled willpower. From everywhere people came to him to be cured of various diseases (he was a famous chiropractor). Thanks to his efforts, a school and a printing house were opened. In 1649, a church was built on the very top of the mountain in honor of the Holy Trinity with the foot of the Virgin Mary in the middle of the temple - before that, the trace of the foot had remained under the open sky for more than 400 years. At the same time, the monastery was surrounded by a defensive wall, other temples, dwellings for monks, and various household structures were built.
A hundred years later, Count Nikolai Pototsky, who was distinguished by a sharp temper, shot his coachman three times because his horses were alarmed, rushed and overturned the carriage. Only the coachman had time to turn in the direction of the monastery visible on the mountain - and ... a misfire; first, second and third time. The enraged Pototsky looks at his pistol, which has never let him down, then shifts his gaze to the coachman, half dead with fear, but with a spark of some kind of saving hope in his eyes, still turned to the silhouette of the monastery. This miracle made a great impression on the count. With tears of repentance, he falls on his knees before the miraculous image of the Mother of God of Pochaev and promises from now on to devote his life to the monastery and take care of increasing his majesty and glory. And already in 1771, on the site of ancient churches, he began, following the project of the architect Gottfried Hoffmann, to build in the late Baroque style a majestic three-altar cathedral in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1833 the monastery was awarded the name Lavra. The Holy Gates, a bell tower, a bishop's house, a candle factory, a white and town hall hotel, and a pharmacy were built. In 1906, construction began on the large Trinity Cathedral in the Old Russian style, which was painted in the 70s. Outside there is a mosaic icon designed by Nicholas Roerich. At the entrance, on the Holy Gates, the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted in a pillar of fire, as she first appeared and left a trace of her right foot on a rock, which after that began to exude holy healing water. This shrine is kept in the Dormition Church of the Lavra. People visiting the Lavra drink and take with them the water that heals from mental and bodily ailments. In this temple, above the royal gates, in a star-shaped, shining with precious stones, kiot - the Miraculous Icon of the Virgin - the second great Lavra shrine. On holidays it is lowered twice a day, on weekdays once. Nearby is the Cave Church, where the incorrupt relics of St. Job lie in a silver shrine. A canopy of white Italian marble rises above the shrine. People come here for blessings.
