The city of Ternopil oblast.
Pochaiv, also known as Pochaev is a small town located in Kremenets district of Ternopil Oblast of Ukraine. The nearest railway station is situated in Kremenets, about 25 km away. The distance to Ternopil, the capital city of the region, is about 50 km.
The population of Pochaiv is about 7,600 (2021), the area - 24 sq. km.
The phone code - +380 3546, the postal codes - 47025-47027.
According to legend, the Pochaiv monastery was founded by monks from Kyiv-Pechora Lavra (monastery), who escaped from the invading Mongols in 1240.
The first record dates back to 1527. In 1597, the local landowner Anna Goiskaya gave the monastery land and estates.
On August 2, 1675, the raid of the Crimean Tatars approached Pochaiv. All the people gathered in the monastery which was surrounded only by a wooden fence.
Everyone able of holding a weapon defended the monastery. Those who were not able to do it kept praying in front of the Virgin icon at Trinity cathedral as it was their only hope. The defenders of the monastery fought two days but the forces were uneven.
According to legend, suddenly, the clouds were gone and the Virgin appeared above the cathedral surrounded by angels.
The Tatars saw them and began to shoot arrows at the heavenly image. But the arrows came back and killed those who sent them. The Pochaiv monastery was saved.
The monastery was rather famous in the first half of the 17th century, due to the Father Superior Iov Zheleza (1551-1651). From 1713 to 1832, it was a Greek-Catholic monastery.
In 1730, Pochaiv printing-house was opened, 187 books were published.
Pochaiv town view
Pochaiv view
Pochaiv theological seminary
The town of Pochaiv is known all over Ukraine and abroad for the Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra, the second largest Orthodox monastery in Ukraine after Kyiv-Pechyorsk Lavra. The monastery stands on a 50 meter hill above Pochaiv. This monastery is rich in old wall paintings, sculptures and ornaments.
The monastery was first time mentioned in written sources in 1527. But, according to local tradition, it was founded in the 13th century by monks who left the Kyiv monastery during the Mongol invasion.
In 1712, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great visited the monastery several times together with Feofan Prokopovich (the reformer of the Russian Orthodox Church).
The buildings of the Pochaiv Lavra:
You can get there by buses running from Lviv and Uzhhorod. Also, it is possible to go by trains, the station is called Radivilov. It is 25 km from Pochaiv, but there are a lot of mini buses at your service.
Also, you can get off at the station in Ternopil, mini buses to Pochaiv are available from it. There are buses going from the railway station in Kyiv too.
Church in Pochaiv
Pochaiv church
Pochaiv monastery graveyard
Holy Dormition Pochaiv Lavra
Pochaiv Lavra
Pochaiv Lavra view
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