Everything about Kievo-pecherskaya Lavra totally explained
Kiev Pechersk Lavra (; ), also known as the
Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic
Orthodox Christian monastery in
Kiev,
Ukraine. Since its foundation as the
cave monastery in
1015 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the
Eastern Orthodox Christianity in
Eastern Europe. It is also one of the four
UNESCO World Heritage Sites within Ukraine.
Currently, the jurisdiction over the site is divided between the state museum, National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve, and the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church as the site of the chief monastery of that Church and the residence of its leader,
Metropolitan Volodymyr.
Etymology and other names
The word
pechera means
cave. The word
lavra is used to describe high ranking men monasteries of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Therefore the name of the monastery is also translated as
Kiev Cave Monastery,
Kiev Caves Monastery or the
Kiev Monastery on the Caves (
на печерах).
Foundation and early history
According to the
Primary Chronicle, in the early
11th century,
Antony, a
Greek Orthodox monk from
Esphigmenon monastery on
Mount Athos, originally from
Liubech of the
Grand Principality of Chernigov, returned to
Rus' and settled in Kiev as a
missionary of monastic tradition to Kievan Rus'. He chose a
cave at the Berestov Mount that overlooked the
Dnieper River and a community of disciples soon grew.
Prince Iziaslav of Kiev ceded the whole mount to the Antonite monks who founded a monastery built by architects from
Constantinople.
Buildings and structures
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra contains numerous architectural monuments, ranging from
belltowers to cathedrals to underground cave systems and to strong stone
fortification walls. The main attractions of the Lavra include the
Great Lavra Belltower, the notable feautre of the Kiev skyline, and the
Dormition Cathedral, destroyed in
World War II, and fully reconstructed in recent years. Other churches and cathedrals of the Lavra include: the
Refectory Church, the Church of All Saints, the
Church of the Saviour at Berestove, the Church of the Exaltation of Cross, the Church of the Trinity, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, the Church of the Conception of St. Anne, and the Church of the Life-Giving Spring. The Lavra also contains many other constructions, including: the St. Nicholas Monastery, the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary, and the Debosquette Wall.
Great Lavra Belltower
The Great Lavra Belltower is one of the most notable features of the Kiev skyline and among the main attractions of the Lavra. It was the tallest free-standing belltower at the time of its construction in 1731-1745, and was designed by the architect Johann Gottfried Schädel. It is a
Classical style construction and consists of
tiers, surmounted by a
gilded dome. Its total height is 96.5 meters.
Gate Church of the Trinity
The Gate Church of the Trinity is located atop the
Holy Gates, which houses the entrance to the monastery. According to a legend, this church was founded by the
Chernigov Prince Sviatoslav. It was built atop an
ancient stone church which used to stand in its place.
Church of the Saviour at Berestove
The Church of the Saviour at Berestove is located to the North of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. It was constructed in the village of Berestove at the turn of the 11th century during the reign of Prince
Vladimir Monomakh. It later served as the mausoleum of the Monomakh dynasty, also including
Yuri Dolgoruki, the founder of
Moscow. However being outside the Lavra fortifications, the Church of the Saviour at Berestove is part of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra complex.
Caverns
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra caverns are a very complex system of narrow underground corridors (
about 1-1½ metres wide and 2-2½ metres high), along with numerous living quarters and underground chapels. In 1051, the Reverend
Anthony had settled in an old cave in one of the hills surrounding the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. This cave apparently grew, with numerous additions including corridors and a church, and is now what we know as the
Far Caves. In 1057, Anthony moved to a cave near the
Upper Lavra, now called the
Near Caves.
Foreign travellers in the 16-17th centuries had written that the catacombs of the Lavra stretched for hundreds of
kilometres, reaching as far as
Moscow and
Novgorod, which had apparently brought about to the knowledge of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra around the world.
Museum
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is also one of the largest Ukrainian museums in Kiev. The exposition is the actual ensemble of the Upper (
Near Caves) and Lower (
Far Caves) Lavra territories that houses more than 100 architectural relics of the past. The collection within the churches and caves include articles of precious metal, prints, higher clergy portraits and rare church hierarchy photographs. The main exposition contains articles from 16 to early 20th centuries which include
chalices,
crucifixes, and
textiles from 16-19th centuries with needlework and
embroidery of Ukrainian masters. The remainder of collection consists of pieces from Lavra's Printing House and Lavra's Icon Painting Workshop.
The museum also provides tours to the
catacombs, which contain mummified remains of Orthodox saints or their relics.
Trivia
The Embassy of Italy was located, from 1994 to 1999 in the territory of the Lavra, within the portion then belonging to the Ukrainian State, after the renewal of the building hosting the ancient baths.
During the Soviet times, the bodies of the mummified saints that lay in the caves were left uncovered due to the regime's disregard for religion. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union, the bodes were covered with a cloth and to this day remain in the same state .
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra was named one of the
Seven Wonders of Ukraine on
August 21,
2007, based on voting by experts and the internet community.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Kievo-pecherskaya Lavra'.
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