Pochayiv Lavra of the Assumption of the Theotokos has for centuries been the foremost spiritual and ideological centre of various Orthodox denominations in Western Ukraine. The monastery tops a 60-metre hill in the town of Pochayiv, Ternopil Oblast, 18 km southwest of Kremenets and 50 km north of Ternopil.
The lavra is dominated by the Dormition Cathedral, conceived by Nicholas Potocki as the largest of Greek-Catholic churches and constructed between 1771 and 1783 to designs by the German architect Gottfried Hoffmann. The exterior of the cathedral, with two lofty towers flanking the façade, is rigorously formulated in the style transitional between baroque and neoclassicism. Several subsidiary structures, notably a winter chapel from 1862 and a refectory from 1888, adjoin the main church.
After the Greek-Catholic clergy reverted to Orthodoxy, the rich and refined interior of the cathedral had to be completely renovated in order to conform to traditional Orthodox requirements. After a fire in 1874 the internal artworks were repainted by renowed academic Vasilyev and participating was a sculptor Poliyevsky. The cathedral contains the tomb of Nicholas Potocki and two greatest shrines of Pochayiv - the footprint and the icon of the Theotokos.
To the southeast from the Assumption Cathedral stands the 65-metre bell tower, one of the tallest in Ukraine, erected in four levels between 1861 and 1869. Its largest bell, cast in 1886, weighs 11,5 tonnes.
Nearby is the Trinity Cathedral, constructed between 1906 and 1912 to a revivalist design by Aleksey Schusev. The cathedral's austere outlook is based on medieval Northern Russian architecture, while the porches feature Symbolist mosaics and paintings by Nicholas Roerich.
The cave churches of St Job and of Sts Anthony and Theodosius are situated for the most part beneath the ground. Their construction started in 1774 and was carried on in several stages, the last in 1860. The church of St Job contains a famous gift from Countess Orlova, a silver reliquary with relics of that saint.
More recent constructions include two chapels, one to mark the 400 anniversary of the transfer of the beholied icon of Theotokos by Anna Hoiskaja, was completed in 1997. Another chapel was build to honour the second millennia since the birth of Christ, was built in 2000.
06:30 – Meeting with a guide at the Lutsk railway station.
07:00 - Departure to Pochaev - tiny town with a reputation of a biggest spiritual center of Western Ukraine. At Pochaev Mount Pochaevskaya Holy Assumption Monastery, a member of the Orthodox world lavrs, is located. Thousands of people come here to worship the sacred places of the Monastery, to get physical and emotional healing, to see beauty of temples.
09:30 – excursion to Pochaev Lavra. (Chudotvoritelnaya icon, imperishable relics of Saint Job and Amfilohiy)
13:00 – free time.
14:00 – Excursion to the Skit of Holy Spirit.
16:00 – Excursion to the Source of Righteous Anna, swimming in the source, where round-the-year temperature is 8 degrees.
17:00 - Departure to the railway station.
Rates in USD per person:
Group
16+1
27+1
47+2
1 day program
21
16
13
Price includes: transportation Lutsk-Pochaev-Lutsk, guide service, medical insurance.
