The feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary was prayerfully celebrated in the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra on August 28, 2022. The solemn service, which united thousands of Orthodox Christians, was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, reports Lavra.ua.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the square in front of the Dormition Cathedral, the main temple of the monastery.
After reading the Gospel, the Primate of the UOC spoke on the ancient Church Tradition about the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
“The Mother of God prepared Herself for the exit from this life. She lay down on a bed and in prayer gave Her soul into the hands of God. Christians had great sorrow and at the same time joy. They rejoiced that the Most Holy Theotokos went to where it is better to live – to God. And they were sad that they no longer had such consolation with them.
“The Mother of God passed into eternity as She fell asleep, which is why the Holy Church calls Her death the Dormition.
“But with Her Dormition She did not leave the world, and we ask Her not to leave us with Her Maternal grace. So that She would protect our land, our people and beg for peace for Ukraine, all of us, and intercede for us from God the gift of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus Our Lord, to Whom be glory forever and ever!”
During the service, solemn petitions and prayers for peace in Ukraine were raised.
After the Liturgy, all participants in the patronal feast day participated in a cross procession to the Near Caves. The feast day ended with a prayer to the Mother of God and a common meal.
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