The Holy Dormition Pochayiv Lavra is one of the largest Orthodox monasteries. It strikes with the beauty of its architecture and the atmosphere of peace and ultimate harmony... Here in Pochayiv they are always ready to unveil legends and mysteries of the ancient Lavra to everyone who is sincerely interested in Orthodox culture and history.

Pochayiv Lavra is located on the west of Ukraine in 130 km from Lviv and 20 km away from city called Krements. Lavra is situated on the hill, which is above on everything on 75 meters. At the bottom of the hill there is a small town called Novyi Pochayiv.

The first historical data on Lavra appears in the beginning of the thirteen century, during the time of Tatar invasion in Kievan Rus. After defeat of Kiev and destruction of its relics orthodox monks had to escape to the West and settled in the district of Pochayiv mountain.


There are three most important relics on the territory of Lavra:

The Imprint of the right foot of the Holy Theotokos — a print of the right foot of the Holy Theotokos, when the phenomenon of appearance of the Theotokos occurred in 1240. This occurrence inspired the monks to build a monastery here.

The Pochayiv Icon of the Theotokos — this icon was brought to Russia from Constantinople by the Greek metropolitan Neophyte. Travelling across Volyn region he stopped in a manor of Anna Goyskaya. After staying here for some time, the metropolitan blessed Anna and left the icon of the Holy Theotokos to her. In 1597 in the manor of Anna there occurred a miracle — her brother Phillip was cured from blindness. Further on there happened a lot of miracles from this icon and Anna Goyskaya decided to present it to monks, who lived near Pochayiv mountain. In the same year the icon was brought to the Pochayiv Church and the monastery was granted with allotments that officially confirmed the status of monastery.

Imperishable hallows of Saint Job. Several years later on mountain Pochayiv comes Saint Job from Dubensky monastery. Very soon he is selected as abbot and becomes the first organizer of the Pochaevsky monastery. For pious life the Lord glorified Saint Job with miracles, and after 8 years after his death in 1659 his imperishable hallows were lifted from the earth. Now hallows are located in a silver shrine in the Cave temple and everyday people come here for worship.


Women enter the monastery only in long skirts and with covered head. Skirts and headscarves can be taken on the entry.