The Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God is one of the most revered shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church. She is known throughout the Slavic world: she is honored in Russia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria and other countries. Along with the Orthodox, Christians of other confessions also come to worship the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The miraculous icon has been in the Pochaev Lavra (an abode in the Ternopil region of Ukraine), an ancient stronghold of Orthodoxy, for about 400 years. The miracles arising from the holy icon are numerous and attested in the monastery books by the records of believers who prayed for deliverance from incurable ailments, liberation from captivity and admonition of sinners.
The celebration in honor of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God on August 5 (new style) was established in memory of the deliverance of the Assumption Pochaev Lavra from the Turkish siege on July 20—23, 1675 (old style).
On the morning of August 5 (July 23, old style), at sunrise, the Tatars held the last council to storm the monastery, while the abbot ordered the akathist of the Mother of God to sing. With the first words «The chosen Voivode» suddenly appeared above the temple The Most Pure Mother of God herself, « white-shining homophore blooming», with heavenly angels holding naked swords. St. Job was near the Mother of God, bowing to Her and praying for the protection of the monastery.
The Tatars mistook the heavenly army for a ghost, in confusion they began to shoot at the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Job, but the arrows returned back and wounded those who let them in. Horror gripped the enemy. In a stampede, without understanding their own, they killed each other. The defenders of the monastery rushed in pursuit and captured many. Some prisoners subsequently accepted the Christian faith and remained in the monastery forever.