www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News UGCC seeks the right to serve in Pochayiv Lavra.

Personally, I hope the day comes very soon when this becomes a reality.

Your very interesting post prompted me to do a little research into the Pochayiv Lavra. With regard to your following quote:

"Researchers of Kyivan Christianity in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth say there was once an unwritten agreement between Orthodox Christians in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and Greek Catholics in the Pochayiv Lavra regarding the printing of liturgical books. What we published in Pochayiv was no longer published by the Orthodox in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Why? Because we exchanged those books."

I quickly discovered the following:

Pochayiv Lavra had an indirect influence on Orthodoxy in the West. Archimandrite Vitaly (Maximenko), the director of the monastery’s printshop, evacuated the monastery’s printshop following the Russian Revolution. He then fled to Czechoslovakia, where he started a new brotherhood and resumed publishing. This new St. Job of Pochaev Brotherhood moved from Czechoslovakia to Germany and eventually America, where it joined the Holy Trinity Monastery near Jordanville, New York, with now-Archbishop Vitaly becoming its abbot. Holy Trinity Monastery thus carried on the publishing legacy of St. Job of Pochaev.[6]

And.....

In 1604, the monastic community was joined by Ivan Zalizo, a well-known champion of Eastern Orthodoxy in union with the then newly recognised Muscovite patriarchate Russian Orthodox Church and was a vocal critic of the Union of Brest. Formerly associated with the printing house of Prince Ostrogski, Zalizo established a press in Pochayiv in 1630, which supplied all of Galicia and Volhynia with Ruthenians Orthodox theological literature. The press continued to function until 1924, when it was taken first to Czechoslovakia, then to Munich, and then, in 1946, to the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.

These entries are both from Wikopedia. The Jordanville connection is very interesting. How wonderful it would be to actually see this press. Thank you for a prompt to investigate an interesting facet of Ukrainian faith. I also hope that the Lavra is open to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church for worship.

Thank you for your post!

You might be interested in reading the following two articles as they are about the printing press run by the Basilians during their time at the Pochayiv Lavra:

1) Почаївський монаст...�ом українського руху. [radiosvoboda.org]

2) Як купець Михайло Д...�ьку спадщину Почаєва. [inlviv.in.ua]

A report was posted on May 8, 2015 from Channel 24 of Ukraine about the Pochayiv Lavra: Почаївська лавра: уподібнення секті Кремля [24tv.ua]

As the video shows, there was a sign in the Church of the Dormition stating that Catholics, Protestants and the unbaptized had no place in the lavra and their donations and requests for prayer would not be accepted. The gift shop sold pro-Russian literature.

That sign and the anti-Ukrainian literature have since been removed according this posted January 18th article from Radio Svoboda: Українська чи прор�...ри? Репортаж з Почаєва [radiosvoboda.org]

Based on what I have been reading in the Ukrainian press (with the help of Gooogle Translate), it looks likely that the lease the UOC-MP has with the lavra will be terminated. That could open the door for the UGCC to celebrate liturgies once again at Pochayiv..

A photo of Metropolitan Vasyl Semeniuk of the Archeparchy of Ternopil–Zboriv making a pilgrimage with fellow priests to the Pochayiv monastery was posted on social media [instagram.com]. May his next visit be to celebrate Divine Liturgy.

Well, your posts about the Pochayiv Lavra were informative and an inspiration to find out more. The century of Basilian influence and the building of their Cathedral was fascinating to learn. Pochayiv is certainly a Ukrainian national treasure as well as a Christian spiritual treasure. It is is also important to world history, art and architecture. Equally important now, is its symbolic role in current events....... your posts are extremely timely.

The issue of its lease, and who should be allowed liturgical privileges in it, is certainly a complex one. The intricacies of its history testify to this.

From my somewhat cursory view, the Lavra should be shared by the Ukrainan Orthodox and Ukrainian Greek Catholics, both having access to visit, occupy,  learn and worship. It should also be accessable to all "well-meaning" Christians including Russians who accept it as a Ukrainian accomplishment.

It should not, however, be a frontier fortress for Russkiy Mir or any political movement. It is a world heritage site that belongs to God and civilized people. 

This business of the MP viewing the Lavra as exclusively theirs- because they are the "true church"- appears selfish and borderline cultish.

May the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church once again worship there.

I've a passion for Church unity; any steps toward this end are to be applauded. It is a blessing from God.

I am happy to know you have enjoyed the articles I've posted.
Here's another one about the history of the lavra: Гора Почаївська: погляд крізь століття [photo-lviv.in.ua]

Considering the lavra's importance for Catholics and Orthodox, the only viable solution would be for both Churches to share the monastery, something similar to the "staus quo" at the Church of the Resurrection/Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.

There was a Ukranianization movement in Pochayiv during the 1920's and 1930's: Article. [radiosvoboda.org]

Even a former abbot of the Pochayiv lavra introduced Ukrainian into the liturgical services, but was eventually thrown out: Article. [radiosvoboda.org]

Since 1991, the Basilians have tried unsuccessfully to have the Pochayiv lavra returned to them: Article. [risu.ua]

Now, in light of recent developmensts, there is hope that Ukrainian Catholics will be able to celebrate liturgies at Pochayiv once again.

Just a few days ago, His Beatitude received a painting of himself with the Pochaiv monastery in the background: Article. [ugcc.ua]
May it be a preview of what's to come.

Certainly, when the Pochaiv Lavra is returned to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church in Ukkraine), it is a certainty that the UGCC will be able to serve Liturgies in a designated part of the monastic complex.

The Pochaiv Lavra belongs to both the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic traditions. It is popular among Latin and Armenian Catholics as well.

These are all spiritual children of the Most Holy Mother of God! Let them all come to their Mother!

Alex

New development.

The Facebook page for the Basilian-Province of the Most Holy Savior in Ukraine has a post about a recent meerting between the protohegumen of the province and the chairman of the Ternopil Regional Council. A letter from His Beatitude, requesting that the Pochayiv Lavra be returned to the UGCC, was handed over to the chairmain: Facebook post. [facebook.com]

The Basilians have also posted on their FB page the icon of Saint Josaphat, which depicts him floating above the Pochayiv Lavra: Link. [facebook.com]

I'm glad to see that the UGCC and the Basiliasn are being proactive regarding this matter. The council had made a statement previously about transfering the lavra for use the OCU: Link. [te-rada.org]

How it will be resolved eventually is uncertain at the moment: Article. [suspilne.media]