Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra or Kyivo-Pechers’ka Lavra ( uk, Києво-Печерська лавра, translit=Kyievo-Pecherska lavra, russian: Киево-Печерская лавра), also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is a historic
Eastern Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to
one of the city districts where it is located in
Kyiv.
Since its foundation as the
cave monastery in 1051, the Lavra has been a preeminent center of
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Chalcedonian Christianity, alongside Catholicism and Protestantism.
Like the Pentarchy of the first millennium, the mainstream (or "canonical") ...
in Eastern Europe. Together with the
Saint Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
[Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia Cathedral remain on UNESCO’s World Heritage List](_blank)
, Interfax-Ukraine
The Interfax-Ukraine ( uk, Інтерфакс-Україна) is a Kyiv-based Ukraine, Ukrainian independent news agency founded in 1992. The company does not belong to the Russian news corporation Interfax Information Services. The company pub ...
(20 June 2013) The monastery complex is considered a separate national historic-cultural preserve (sanctuary), the national status to which was granted on 13 March 1996. The Lavra is not only located in another part of the city, but is part of a different national sanctuary than Saint Sophia Cathedral. While being a cultural attraction, the monastery is once again active, with over 100 monks in residence. It was named one of the
Seven Wonders of Ukraine on 21 August 2007.
Currently, the jurisdiction over the site is divided between the state museum, National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve, and the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) as the site of the chief monastery of that Church and the residence of its leader,
Onufrius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Etymology and other names
The word ''pechera'' means ''cave''. The word ''
lavra'' is used to describe high-ranking male monasteries for monks of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Therefore, the name of the monastery is also translated as Kyiv Cave Monastery, Kyiv Caves Monastery or the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves (''на печерах'').
Foundation and early history
According to the
Primary Chronicle
The ''Tale of Bygone Years'' ( orv, Повѣсть времѧньныхъ лѣтъ, translit=Pověstĭ vremęnĭnyxŭ lětŭ; ; ; ; ), often known in English as the ''Rus' Primary Chronicle'', the ''Russian Primary Chronicle'', or simply the ...
, in the early 11th century,
Anthony, a Christian
monk from
Esphigmenon monastery on
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
, originally from
Liubech
Liubech ( uk, Любеч, russian: Любеч, pl, Lubecz) is an urban-type settlement, previously a small ancient town (first mentioned in 882) connected with many important events in the Principality of Chernigov since the times of Kievan Rus'. ...
of the
Principality of Chernigov, returned to
Rus' and settled in Kyiv as a
missionary of monastic tradition to Kyivan Rus'. He chose a cave at the Berestov Mount that overlooked the
Dnieper River and a community of disciples soon grew.
Prince Iziaslav I of Kyiv
Iziaslav Yaroslavich ( orv, Изѧславь Ѩрославичь; russian: Изяслав Ярославич; uk, Ізяслав Ярославич; 1024 – 3 October 1078, baptized as ''Demetrius'') was a Kniaz' ( Prince) of Turov and Grand ...
ceded the whole mount to the Anthonite monks who founded a monastery built by architects from
Constantinople.
Hegumens
The
hegumens of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra are listed below.
Buildings and structures
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra contains numerous architectural monuments, ranging from
bell tower
A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...
s to cathedrals to cave systems and to strong stone
fortification walls. The main attractions of the Lavra include the
Great Lavra Belltower
The Great Lavra Bell Tower or the Great Belfry ( uk, Велика Лаврська дзвіниця, russian: Большая Лаврская колокольня) is the main bell tower of the ancient cave monastery of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Ky ...
, 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 Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, and the Debosquette Wall.
Great Lavra Belltower
The Great Lavra Belltower is one of the most notable features of the Kyiv skyline and among the main attractions of the Lavra. 96.5 meters in height, 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
Johann, typically a male given name, is the German form of ''Iohannes'', which is the Latin form of the Greek name ''Iōánnēs'' (), itself derived from Hebrew name ''Yochanan'' () in turn from its extended form (), meaning "Yahweh is Gracious" ...
. It is a
Classical style construction and consists of
tier
Tier may refer to:
Groupings
*Organizational, a ranking relationship involving order in a collective and its subordinate components
*Ranking, a relationship involving order between a set of observations or variables
*Data center tiers, Telecommu ...
s, surmounted by a
gilded
Gilding is a decorative technique for applying a very thin coating of gold over solid surfaces such as metal (most common), wood, porcelain, or stone. A gilded object is also described as "gilt". Where metal is gilded, the metal below was tradi ...
dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
.
Dormition Cathedral
Built in the 11th century, the main church of the monastery was destroyed during the
World War II, a couple of months after the Nazi Germany troops occupied the city of
Kyiv and the controversial
1941 Khreshchatyk explosions
Khreshchatyk ( uk, Хрещатик, ) is the main street of Kyiv, Ukraine. The street has a length of . It stretches from the European Square (northeast) through the Maidan and to Bessarabska Square (southwest) where the Besarabsky Market is ...
that destroyed the city's main street. According to the Soviet authorities, the church was destroyed by the advancing German troops, while at the same time German authorities put the blame on the withdrawing Soviet troops who practiced the tactics of
scorched earth
A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communi ...
and blew up all the Kyiv bridges over
Dnieper as well as being accused in the 1941 Khreshchatyk explosions.
In 1928, the monastery was converted into a museum park by the Soviet authorities and after its return no efforts were provided to restore the church. The temple was finally restored in 1995 after Ukraine obtained its independence and the construction was accomplished in two years. The new Dormition Church was consecrated in 2000.
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
Chernihiv Prince Sviatoslav II
Sviatoslav II Iaroslavich or Sviatoslav II Yaroslavich ( orv, Ст҃ославь Ӕрославичь; Russian and Ukrainian: Святослав Ярославич; 1027 – 27 December 1076) was Grand Prince of Kiev between 1073 and 1076. ...
. It was built atop an
ancient stone church which used to stand in its place.
After the fire of 1718, the church was rebuilt, its revered facades and interior walls enriched with ornate stucco work made by craftsman V. Stefaovych.
In the 18th century, a new gilded pear-shaped dome was built, the facade and exterior walls were decorated with stucco-moulded plant ornaments and a vestibule built of stone attached to the north end. In the early 20th century, the fronts and the walls flanking the entrance were painted by icon painters under the guidance of V. Sonin.
The interior of the Gate Trinity Church contains murals by the early 18th century painter Alimpy Galik.
Refectory chambers with Church of the Saints Anthony and Theodosius
The refectory chambers with the Church of the Saints Anthony and Theodosius is the third in a series of temples. The original temple was built in the 12th century and no drawings or visual depictions of it remain. The second temple was built at the time of the
Cossack Hetmanate and was disassembled by the Russian authorities in the 19th century. It was replaced with the current temple, often referred to as the Refectory Church of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
The All Saints Church
The All Saints Church, erected in 1696–1698, is a fine specimen of Ukrainian baroque architecture. Characteristic of the church facades are rich architectural embellishments. In 1905, students of the Lavra art school painted the interior walls of the church. The carved wooden iconostasis is multi-tiered and was made for the All Saints church in the early 18th century.
Church of the Saviour at Berestov
The Church of the Saviour at Berestove is located to the North of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. It was constructed in the village of Berestove around the start 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. Despite being outside the Lavra fortifications, the Church of the Saviour at Berestove is part of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra complex.
Caves
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra caverns are a 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 monk
Anthony settled in an old cave in a hill near the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. This cave received additions including corridors and a church, and is now the
Far Caves. In 1057, Anthony moved to a cave near the Upper Lavra, now called the
Near Caves.
Foreign travellers in the 16th–17th centuries wrote that the catacombs of the Lavra stretched for hundreds of kilometres, reaching as far as Moscow and
Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the ol ...
,
spreading awareness of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.
Burials
There are over a hundred burials in the Lavra. Below are the most notable ones
*
Ilya Muromets – in the caves (c. 11th–12th century)
*
Nestor the Chronicler – in the
Near Caves (c. 1114)
*
Saint Kuksha – in the
Near Caves (c. 1114)
*
Alipy of the Caves
Alipy of the Caves (? - 1114) - (also known as 'Venerable Alypius') Eastern Orthodox saint, monk and famous painter of icons from the cave monastery of Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Saint Alipy was a disciple of Greek icon painters from Constantinople and ...
– in the
Near Caves (c. 1114)
*
Agapetus of Pechersk
Agapetus of the Kiev Caves or Agapetus of Pechersk (Агапит Печерский in Russian, Агапіт Печерський in Ukrainian)(born ?? - died 1095), was an Orthodox Christian saint and doctor, as well as a monk in Kiev Pechersk L ...
– in the
Near Caves (c. 11th century)
*
Oleg son of
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh (Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Мономахъ, ''Volodiměrŭ Monomakhŭ''; uk, Володимир Мономах, translit=Volodymyr Monomakh; russian: Владимир Мономах; Christian name: ''Vasiliy'' ...
– in the
Church of the Saviour at Berestove (c. 12th century)
*
Eufemia of Kyiv daughter of
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh (Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Мономахъ, ''Volodiměrŭ Monomakhŭ''; uk, Володимир Мономах, translit=Volodymyr Monomakh; russian: Владимир Мономах; Christian name: ''Vasiliy'' ...
– in the
Church of the Saviour at Berestove (1139)
*
Yuri Dolgoruki – in the
Church of the Saviour at Berestove (1157)
*
Skirgaila – regent Grand Duke of Lithuania (1397)
*
Konstanty Ostrogski
Konstanty Iwanowicz Ostrogski (c. 1460 – 10 August 1530; lt, Konstantinas Ostrogiškis; uk, Костянтин Іванович Острозький, translit=Kostiantyn Ivanovych Ostrozkyi; be, Канстантын Іванавіч Ас ...
– near the
Cathedral of the Dormition (1530)
*
Vasily Kochubey – near the
Refectory Church (1708)
*
Ivan Iskra Ivan Ivanovych Iskra ( uk, Іван Іванович Іскра) (died July, 14, 1708) was a colonel of Poltava (1696–1703). Iskra belonged to the anti- Hetmanate coalition led by Vasily Kochubey. In late 1707, Kochubey and Iskra delivered a lette ...
– near the
Refectory Church (1708)
*
Pyotr Stolypin
Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin ( rus, Пётр Арка́дьевич Столы́пин, p=pʲɵtr ɐrˈkadʲjɪvʲɪtɕ stɐˈlɨpʲɪn; – ) was a Russian politician and statesman. He served as the third prime minister and the interior minist ...
– near the
Refectory Church (1911)
*
St. Spyridon
Saint Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous also sometimes written Saint Spiridon (Greek: ; c. 270 – 348) is a saint honoured in both the Eastern and Western Christian traditions.
Life
Spyridon was born in Askeia, in Cyprus. He worked as a shepher ...
– in the caves (c. 19th–20th century)
*
Pope Clement I
Pope Clement I ( la, Clemens Romanus; Greek: grc, Κλήμης Ῥώμης, Klēmēs Rōmēs) ( – 99 AD) was bishop of Rome in the late first century AD. He is listed by Irenaeus and Tertullian as the bishop of Rome, holding office from 88 AD t ...
– his head in the Far Caves (his remaining relics brought to San Clemente in Rome by Sts. Cyril and Methodius)
*
Other people buried
During the
Soviet era, the bodies of the 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 bodies were covered with a cloth and to this day remain in the same state. .
Museum
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is one of the largest museums in Kyiv. The exposition is the actual ensemble of the Upper (
Near Caves) and Lower (
Far Caves) Lavra territories, which house many architectural relics of the past. The collection within the churches and caves includes articles of precious metal, prints, higher clergy portraits and rare church hierarchy photographs. The main exposition contains articles from 16th to early 20th centuries, which include
chalices,
crucifixes, and textiles from 16th–19th centuries, with needlework and
embroidery of Ukrainian masters. The remainder of the collection consists of pieces from the Lavra's Printing House and the Lavra's Icon Painting Workshop.
The museum provides tours of the
catacombs
Catacombs are man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire.
Etymology and history
The first place to be referred ...
, which contain remains of Eastern Orthodox saints or their relics. The Caves are of geological interest because they are excavated into
loess
Loess (, ; from german: Löss ) is a clastic, predominantly silt-sized sediment that is formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust. Ten percent of Earth's land area is covered by loess or similar deposits.
Loess is a periglacial or aeolian ...
ground. They form one of the most extensive occurrences of loess caves in the world.
The Lavra museums include:
*
Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine
A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make thes ...
**
Martynivka Treasure
Martynivka Treasure ( uk, Мартинівський скарб, ''Martynivsky skarb'') is a hoard consisting of 116 silver items (weighing about 3.3 kg) found in 1909, in the village of Martynivka, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. The treasure is ...
*
Book and print history museum
*
Museum of Ukrainian Folk Art
The National Folk Decorative Art Museum ( uk, Національний Музей українського народного декоративного мистецтва) is a national museum dedicated to folk and decorative art in Kyiv, Ukrain ...
*
Theater and film arts museum
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perfor ...
*
State historical library
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
Images
Комплекс Києво-Печерської лаври DSC 4451.JPG
Вид на Києво-Печерську Лавру.jpg
Різдва Богородиці.Лавра.Київ2.jpg
Лавра.jpg
Cathedral of the Dormition - Kiev Pechersk Lavra (8601807770).jpg
Успенський собор Лавра.jpg
80-382-9002 Комплекс Нижньої Лаври 2.jpg
Києво-Печерська лавра, вид з мосту Патона.jpg
Києво-Печерська лавра.Комплекс Києво-Печерської лаври (Національний заповідник Києво-Печерська Лавра) Київ 01.jpg
File:Kyiv_Kyiv_Pechersk_Lavra_70.JPG
File:2018 - Комплекс Києво-Печерської лаври.jpg
File:Pecherska gora, lavra ta Dnipro.webm
See also
*
Near Caves
*
Yakun
Yakun or Jakun, deriving from Old Norse ''Hákon'', was a Varangians, Varangian (Viking) leader who is mentioned in the ''Primary Chronicle'' and in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery in Kyiv. The chronicle tells that he arrived in Kievan Rus' ...
*
Šimon
*
Lavra
*
List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ukraine
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by countries that are signatories to the UNES ...
Notes
References
Sources
* Kyiv Pechersk Lavra article in
Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
The ''Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopaedic Dictionary'' (Russian: Энциклопедический словарь Брокгауза и Ефрона, abbr. ЭСБЕ, tr. ; 35 volumes, small; 86 volumes, large) is a comprehensive multi-volume ...
.
Kyivan Cave Monastery in th
Encyclopedia of Ukraine.
* Schotkina, Kateryna. "Kyiv Pechersk Lavra: Take away and Divide" in ''
Zerkalo Nedeli'', 11–17 November 2006.
External links
Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – Official site
National Kyiv-Pechersk Historico-Cultural PreserveDrawings and Sketches by Students of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery WorkshopM. Z. Petrenko. Cave labyrinths on the territory of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. Photo essay. Kyiv, Mystetstvo, 1974
National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. A set of postcards. Kyiv, Mystetstvo, 1977
Video "Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (4k UltraHD)"
{{Authority control
Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Ukraine
Monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
World Heritage Sites in Ukraine
Buildings and structures in Kyiv
Tourist attractions in Kyiv
Christian monasteries established in the 11th century
1051 establishments in Europe
Eastern Orthodox church buildings
Historic sites in Ukraine
Landmarks in Kyiv
Protected areas of Ukraine
Protected areas established in 1926
Monuments and memorials in Kyiv
Religious museums in Ukraine
Cave monasteries
Cemeteries in Kyiv
Pecherskyi District
Symbols of Kyiv
Lavras