Festivities begin in Pochaiv Lavra in honor of St. Venerable Amphilochius

Pochaiv Lavra. Photo: Screenshot from the live broadcast on December 31, 2024

On the eve of January 1, thousands of believers traveled to Pochaiv Lavra to honor the feast day of St. Amphilochius. Live broadcasts of the services dedicated to the celebration were shared on the YouTube channel of Pochaiv Monastery and the Telegram channel "Pochaiv Listok".

Traditionally, on December 29, after the evening service, the relics of St. Amphilochius were transferred to the Transfiguration Cathedral from the Cave Church of St. Job. That evening, an Akathist hymn to the saint was chanted in the cathedral.

On December 31, during the All-Night Vigil, all attendees had the opportunity to venerate the holy relics. Priests anointed believers with holy oil.

On the night of January 1, the Transfiguration Cathedral will host a festive Divine Liturgy. The monastery has requested that those wishing to attend arrive by 11:45 p.m. The service will begin at midnight.

A later liturgy will take place at 9 a.m. in the Transfiguration Cathedral. After the festive service, the relics of St. Amphilochius will be returned to the Cave Church in a solemn procession.

St. Amphilochius was born on November 27, 1894, in the village of Mala Ilovytsia, Ternopil region. While serving as a novice at Pochaiv Lavra, he treated the sick and became especially renowned as a bonesetter. There are numerous testimonies about the saint's life and miracles. He performed all his deeds without seeking any payment, asking only for gratitude to God.

The saint healed the sick not only during his lifetime but also after his death. Shortly before his passing, he told people to come to his grave with their needs and ailments, promising not to abandon anyone in need of his prayerful assistance.

St. Amphilochius passed away on January 1, 1971, and was buried on January 4 of the same year. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on May 12, 2002, Schema-Archimandrite Amphilochius was canonized as St. Amphilochius of Pochaiv.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the abbot of Pochaiv Lavra shared that during the canonization of St. Amphilochius, those possessed by demons howled in distress.

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