Florida Monastery Receives Relics from Pochaev Lavra

NORTH PORT, FL — The Monastery of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God in North Port, Florida, has received a reliquary containing particles of the relics of St. Job and St. Amphilochius of Pochaev, presented as a gift by the brethren of the Dormition Lavra in Pochaev, Ukraine. The reliquary arrived on November 1, 2026.

Representatives of the Ukrainian monastery contacted the North Port monastery’s abbot, Hegumen Stefan (Khilchuk), before arranging the gift. The reliquary consists of a decorated wooden chest bearing a painted icon of the two saints, with small reliquaries containing particles of their relics incorporated into the icon.

The gift follows an earlier donation from the Pochaev Lavra. Five years ago, Metr. Vladimir (Moroz), the Lavra’s abbot, presented the Florida monastery with panels depicting the footprints of the Mother of God, which had covered the site of her appearance in the Dormition Cathedral at Pochaev.

The North Port monastery said the new relics would be a source of spiritual comfort for its parishioners, including Ukrainian refugees, some originally from Pochaev. The community expressed particular gratitude for the support of the Lavra’s abbot and brotherhood, as well as for the assistance of two individuals, Igor and Stefan, who helped bring the reliquary to the United States.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Pochaev Lavra called for fasting and prayer ahead of the September 10 hearing.