Thousands of believers gather in Pochaev Lavra for the feast of the Assumption (PHOTO)

On August 28 the Holy Assumption Pochaev Lavra held the festivities on the occasion of the holiday of the Assumption of the Mother of God, writes the website of the Lavra.

"This year it was impossible to find spare room on the Pochaev mountain: hundreds of tents covered it, all the churches were open for the reception of pilgrims. A huge number of believers came here to prayerfully glorify our Heavenly Intercessor, the Most-Pure Virgin Mary and ask for Her holy blessing," they say in the monastery.

On the festive day, two Divine Liturgies were served – early and late. The festive Divine Liturgy in the Transfiguration Cathedral was led by Metropolitan of Kamenets-Podilsky and Gorodok Theodore. After reading the Gospel, Bishop Theodore addressed the word of preaching to the worshipers.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Shroud of the Mother of God was transferred to the Assumption Cathedral.

After the prayer, Metropolitan Volodymyr, vicegerent of the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra, addressed the greeting to the Most Reverend Bishops, clergy and pilgrims.