Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Lavriv to Be Held

11.06.2010, 15:27
A pilgrimage to the Lavriv Monastery of Saint Onuphrius will take place on June 19-20, the feast of Saint Onuphrius.

LVIV – A pilgrimage to the Lavriv Monastery of Saint Onuphrius will take place on June 19-20, the feast of Saint Onuphrius, reports the Information Department of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). The Lavriv Monastery is the oldest monastery dedicated to Saint Onuphrius in Ukraine. The monastery for many centuries was a center of ecumenism. A large necropolis is located on its premises in which rest Orthodox metropolitans, Greek Catholic bishops, Moldovan landlords, etc. Historical information confirms that Metropolitan Macarius Ligaridu of Jerusalem is also buried here.

In addition, one version of historians is that among the Orthodox metropolitans, Greek Catholic bishops and Moldovan landlords, Prince Lev rests in cemetery of the monastery, though his burial place has still not been found. In his final years of life he became a monk, receiving the monastic name of his favorite Saint Onuphrius, and settled in the sacred place. The monastery was part of the domain of the princely family.

The pilgrimage to the monastery with the intent for monastic vocation will begin at 7 a.m. on June 19 by the miraculous icon of the Mother of God in the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God in Sambir where the relics of Saint Valentine are kept. The Saturday pilgrimage will be 29 km from Sambir to Lavriv. 

On Sunday, June 20, in Lavriv the pilgrims will take part in the Holy Liturgy and the Road of the Cross which will carry Fr. Vasyl Mendrun from Krekhiv Monastery of Saint Nicolas.