A: The history of Our Lady of Pochaev beings in 1198, only about two centuries after Christianity became institutionalized following the conversion of St. Vladimir.  In this year a monk ascended Mount Pochaev in order to pray.  After beginning his prayers, a pillar of fire appeared to him and to some shepherds that happened to be nearby.  The flames withdrew to reveal the Blessed Virgin.  The apparition of the Virgin Mary left behind a footprint, from which a spring of water flowed.  This first event would lead to many other supernatural events through the special dedication of the Blessed Virgin to this region.

Many of these miracles are the result of the veneration of the icon of our Lady of Pochaev [see right].  It first arrived in the region as a gift of Metropolitan Neophit to Anna Hoyska, an important patron of the Church, in 1559.  The icon shows our Lady, wearing a crown, and holding the infant Jesus.  In her other hand “she holds the end of her veil.”  This being a 'tenderness' icon, Jesus and Mary’s face touch, while Jesus gives a blessing with his hand.  To Mary’s right are the prophet Elijah and Saint Myrna, while to her left are St. Stephen and the Reverend Abraymey.  Mary’s face is described as being “beautiful but sad.”   The icon itself is 29 x 23 cm, and made out of red pitched cypress.  The origin of the icon remains a mystery.

Original icon of Our Lady of Pochaev

Our Lady of Pochaev
icon by William Hart McNichols

The first took place during the invasion of the Turks in 1675.  The populace of Pochaev gathered at the monastery in order to weather the attack.  Gathered together and facing certain death at the hands of the invaders, they “turned to Mary for protection and help.”  The Blessed Virgin appeared along with Venerable Job of Pochaev and a host of angels.  Her white mantle spread over the monastery and the arrows of the Turks were deflected.  This caused enough confusion among the invaders that they scattered, allowing the Ukrainian military to turn their enemies back.

The second notable miracle came during the construction of a large church in Pochaev in the 1780’s.  A monk ran into the church demanding that everybody leave.  After the approximately two hundred workers had left the church, the roof collapsed.  In total, 539 miracles have been recorded in the monastery chronicles.

After an investigation, the icon was crowned by Pope Clement in 1773.  However, in 1831 Tsar Mykola gave the monastery to Orthodox monks, and expelled the Basilians.  In 2001, the icon was temporarily moved from Pochaev to The Cathedra of the Trinity (Saint Daniel's Monastery) in Moscow.

More recently, Fr. William McNichols wrote a copy of the famous icon [see left].  This work was commissioned by the Archbishop of Anchorage, Alaska, to be given as a gift to the Russian Orthodox Monastery of Saint Sergius of Rodonezh Lavra in Magadan, Far East, Russia.  For more information on Fr. McNichols and his icons click into: http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/andre/