Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and Poland gathered on Sept. 10 to commemorate St. Job of Pochaev, a revered 17th-century monk and abbot known for his devotion to Orthodox Christianity.

Thousands of pilgrims attended a Divine Liturgy at the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra in Ukraine, followed by a traditional religious procession carrying the saint’s relics, according to the Information Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The liturgy was celebrated in the Transfiguration Cathedral and led by Metropolitan Sergius of Ternopil and Kremenets. Following the service, clergy and worshippers took part in a procession through the monastery grounds. The reliquary containing St. Job’s relics was later transferred to the Cave Church.

St. Job of Pochaev was an Orthodox monk who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. Born around 1550, he entered monastic life at a young age and eventually became the head of the monastery on Pochaev Hill. He is remembered as an ascetic and a prominent defender of Orthodoxy during the spread of the Union of Brest, concluded in 1596 between part of the Orthodox population and the Catholic Church.

The year 2026 marks 366 years since the discovery of St. Job’s relics. According to church tradition, the relics were found in 1659 after the saint appeared three times in dreams to Metropolitan Dionysius Balaban. The remains were reportedly found incorrupt and transferred to the Holy Trinity Church.

The saint’s feast day was also observed in Poland. A solemn service was held at the Parish of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Koszalin, led by Archbishop Gregory of Bielsk. Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, along with bishops and clergy of the Warsaw-Bielsk Diocese, joined the prayers.

In his sermon, priest Pavel Tsybulsky called on worshippers to view the commemoration not merely as a church tradition but also as an opportunity to follow the saint’s example. He highlighted St. Job’s lifelong dedication to monasticism and his role as a defender of the Orthodox faith during religious conflicts in the western Russian lands.

Addressing the congregation, Metropolitan Sawa emphasized the importance of a heavenly patron in the life of a Christian and described St. Job as an example of complete dedication to God. He said the saint’s life teaches patience, fidelity to one’s convictions and the pursuit of harmony.