Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

From Vero - Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:Refimprove Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox church The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or Kyievo-Pecherska Lavra (Template:Langx), also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is a historic lavra or large monastery of Eastern Christianity that gave its name to the Pecherskyi District where it is located in Kyiv.

Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1051, the Lavra has been a preeminent center of Eastern Christianity in Eastern Europe.<ref>Magocsi P.R. A History of Ukraine. University of Toronto Press: Toronto, 1996. p 98.</ref>

Etymology and other names

Template:Langx means Template:Lit. cave, which in turn derived from Proto-Slavic *реktera with the same meaning. Template:Langx 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 (from Template:Langx).Template:Cn

History

Foundation and early history

The Primary Chronicle contains contradictory information as to when the monastery was founded: in 1051, or in 1074.Template:Sfn Anthony, a Christian monk from Esphigmenon monastery on Mount Athos, originally from Liubech 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 (1024–1078) ceded the whole mount to the Anthonite monks who founded a monastery built by architects from Constantinople.Template:Cn

In 1096 the monastery was plundered by the Cumans. Later it fell victim to the Mongolian invaders, and in 1416 was burned down by forces of Golden Horde ruler Edigey, being rebuilt only in 1470.<ref name=meta/>

At the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra were buried some high-importance personalities from the period when Kyiv was a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: Prince of Kyiv Vladimir Olgerdovich and his son Aleksandras Olelka, the Lithuanian and Ruthenian Grand Duke Švitrigaila, Feodor Ostrogski, Uliana Olshanska (a second wife of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vytautas the Great), and the Lithuanian Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski, known for commanding the Grand Ducal Lithuanian Army in the victorious Battle of Orsha (1514) versus the Grand Principality of Moscow Army.<ref name="Vkpk">Template:Cite web</ref> Mayors of Kyiv, members of the szlachta and Cossack starshyna, as well as church hierarchs also found their burial place in the monastery.<ref name=meta/>

Baroque era and Russian rule

In the 17th century, under the leadership of archimandrites Eliseus Pletenetsky, Zacharias Kopystensky and Peter Mohyla, the monastery stood at the heart of Ukrainian national identity. Kyiv Caves Patericon, which was created by Lavra's monks and soon became a popular reading around the whole Eastern Europe, contributed to the emergence of the symbolic image of Kyiv as a capital of Eastern Orthodoxy. Lavra's printing house, established by Pletenetskyi in the 1620s, started the process of Kyiv's cultural revival, and the monastery's school, founded by Mohyla, introduced European educational trends of the time, leading to a radical reform of education. During the Baroque era Kyiv Pechersk Lavra flourished as a centre of arts and spirituality, and pilgrimage to Kyiv was seen by some as more preferable than visiting Jerusalem.<ref name=meta>Template:Cite web</ref>

According to a legend published by polemicist and preacher Template:Ill, in 1630 the monastery was besieged by a Polish army, but the Holy Mother of God protected its monks by turning a "fiery rain" against the invaders.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Despite the patronage of powerful figures, including Ivan Mazepa and Raphael Zaborovsky, the Annexation of the Metropolis of Kyiv by the Moscow Patriarchate in 1685 started a process of subjugation of the monastery to Russian imperial authority. In 1722, by the decree of Peter I of Russia, the Metropolis of Kyiv was lowered in status to an archbishopric, which made it equal to other subdivisions of the Russian Synodal Church. In the following years, Russian religious traditions, axiology and language were imposed on the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.<ref name=moly/>

Under Russian rule, Pechersk Lavra became a popular place of mass pilgrimage for both the common folk and figures of authority, including the royal family. During the late 19th century numerous guides for pilgrims visiting the monastery were published in Tsarist Russia, contributing to its inclusion into the empire's symbolic space. Among prominent figures buried in Lavra's walls under the Russian rule are Natalia Dolgorukova, Pyotr Rumyantsev and Pyotr Stolypin.<ref name=moly>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=meta/>

Modern history

During the Ukrainian Revolution of the early 20th century attempts to Ukrainize the Lavra failed due to political instability.<ref name=moly/> On 25 January 1918 Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev was tortured and murdered in the monastery by Bolshevik troops. Eventually, the monastery was disbanded, and in 1926 a museum was opened on its territory.<ref name=meta/> Under German occupation religion services in the monastery were resumed.<ref name=moly/> On 3 November 1941 the main Dormition Cathedral was blown up by Soviet NKVD; Soviet press would falsely accuse the Germans of committing that act. The demolition of the cathedral's ruins continued into the 1960s. After a long period of reconstruction, on 24 August 2000 the reconstructed Dormition Cathedral was solemnly reopened.<ref name=meta/>

Starting from the end of the Second World War, the monastery resumed its activities as part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Over 100 monks lived on Lavra's premises until its new closure by the authorities in 1961.<ref name=mon/>

In 1988 activities of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra were renewed as part of celebrations dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus'. During the early 1990s the monastery was headed by metropolitan Filaret of Kyiv, whose residence was located on its premises. However, in 1992 ownership over the Lavra was transferred to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) with the support of Kyiv's political leadership.<ref name=moly/> Under the management of the Moscow Patriarchate Lavra became an epicentre of several scandals connected with its leadership's love for expensive cars and other attributes of wealth, as well as its monks' connections to Russian FSB, veneration of Tsar Nicholas II and spread of anti-Ukrainian propaganda.<ref name=meta/>

Together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.<ref name="Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia Cathedral remain on UNESCO's World Heritage List">Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia Cathedral remain on UNESCO's World Heritage List Template:Webarchive, Interfax-Ukraine (20 June 2013)</ref><ref group="nb">Late 2010 a monitoring mission of UNESCO was visiting the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to check on situation of the site. At the time the Minister of Culture Mykhailo Kulynyak stated the historic site along with the Saint Sophia Cathedral was not threatened by the "black list" of the organisation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO decided in June 2013 that Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, and St. Sofia Cathedral and related monastery buildings would remain on the World Heritage List.<ref name="Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia Cathedral remain on UNESCO's World Heritage List"/></ref> The monastery complex is considered a separate national historic-cultural preserve (sanctuary), the national status to which was granted on 13 March 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.Template:Citation needed It was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine on 21 August 2007.Template:Cn

Until the end of 2022, jurisdiction over the site had been divided between the state museum, National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) (UOC-MP) as the site of the chief monastery of that Church and the residence of its leader, Onufrius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2023, the Ukrainian government terminated the UOC-MP's lease of the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church (also known as the Trapezna Church), returning those properties to direct state control.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> It also announced that the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) had been granted permission to celebrate a Christmas service in the Dormition Cathedral, on 7 January 2023, Orthodox Christmas by the Old Calendar,<ref name=":0" /> a service which was celebrated by Metropolitan Epiphanius at 9am that day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 10 March 2023, the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historic-Cultural Preserve announced that the 2013 agreement on the free use of churches by the UOC-MP would be terminated on the grounds that the church had violated their lease by making alterations to the historic site, and other technical infractions.<ref name="PBSNewsHourOrthodox leader">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="7393889PavloLebid"/> The UOC-MP was ordered to leave the territory by 29 March.<ref name="7393889PavloLebid"/> The UOC-MP answered back that there were no legal grounds for the eviction and called it "a whim of officials from the Ministry of Culture."<ref name="7393889PavloLebid"/> On 17 March 2023 Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that the decision of the Ukrainian authorities not to extend this lease to representatives of the UOC-MP "confirms the correctness" of the (24 February 2022) Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref name="7393889PavloLebid">Template:Cite web</ref> The UOC-MP did not fully leave Kyiv Pechersk Lavra following 29 March 2023.<ref name="epiphany-urges-calm">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="550462lavra_shcho_dali">Template:Cite web</ref>

On 23 July 2025 a religious service in Ukrainian language, the first of that kind in many years, was performed in the Far Caves of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra by Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv.<ref name=moly/>

Priors

Template:Refimprove section The priors of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra are listed below.

Years Names Notes
Hegumens
1051–1062 Antoniy Founder of the Pechersk Lavra and pioneer of monasticism in Ukraine<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1062–1063 Varlaam First hegumen of the monastery, later headed St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1063–1074 Theodosius I Joined the Studite Brethren, initiated the construction of Dormition Cathedral<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1074–1077 Stefan I Bolharyn One of the first singers in Rus', also served as bishop of Volodymyr, canonized<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1077–1088 Nikon the Great Before schema known as Hilarion
1088–1103 John I In 1096 Cumans led by khan Boniak attacked Kyiv and the Cave Monastery<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1108–1112 Theoktistos Became a bishop of Chernihiv
1112–1125 Prokhor Completion of the Tale of Bygone Years by Nestor the Chronicler<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1125–1131 Timothy / Akindin
1132–1141 Pimen the Singer
1142–1156 Theodosius II
1156–1164 Akindin I In 1159 the monastery received stauropegic status and since then was known as lavra.
Archimandrites
1165–1182 Polycarp I of Pechersk The first archimandrite; monastery sacked by Andrey Bogolyubsky (1169)<ref name=mon>Template:Cite web</ref>
1182–1197 Basil
1197-1203 Theodosius III Monastery sacked by Rurik Rostislavich (1203)<ref name=mon/>
1203-1232 Akindin II Creation of Kyiv Cave Patericon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1232-1238 Polycarp II One of the authors of Kyiv Cave Patericon<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1238-1249 Agapit I Monastery sacked by Batu Khan (1240)<ref name=mon/>
1249-1274 Serapion Later moved to Vladimir
1274-1289 Agapit II
1289-1292 Dositheus
1292-1299 John II
1300-? Azaria
~1321 Barsonophius
~1335 Maxim
1370/1377-1395 David
1395-1397 Abrahamius
1397-1398 Theodosius IV
1398-1416 Nicetas Monastery sacked by khan Edigey of the Golden Horde
1417-1434 Ignatius
1434-1446 Nicephorus I
1446-1462 Nicholas
1462-1466 Macarius
1466-1477 John III Monastery rebuilt by Simeon Olelkovich<ref name=mon/>
1477-1482 Joasaph Monastery burned down by Tatars<ref name=mon/>
1482-1493 Theodosius V Woyniłłowicz
1494-1501/1503 Philaret
1501/1503-? Theodosius VI
?-? Sylvester
1506–1508 Vassian I Shyshka
1508-1509 Jonas I
1509-1514 Protasius I
1514-1524 Ignatius II
1524–1525 Anthony I
1525-1528 Ignatius II
1528–1535 Anthony I
1535-1536 Gennadius
1536 Joachim
1536-1538 Protasius II
1539-1540 Sophronius
1540 Joseph I Revut
1540-1541 Sophronius
1541-1546 Vassian II
1546-1550 Joachim II
1551-1554 Hilarion I
1554-1555 Joseph II
1556–1572 Hilarion Pesoczynski
1572-1574 Jonas Despotowicz
1574-1576 Sylvester of Jerusalem
1576–1590 Meletius Chrebtowicz-Bohurynski Received the title of stauropegion (1586)<ref name=mon/>
1593–1599 Nycephorus Tur Start of conflict between Orthodox and Uniate parties after the Union of Brest<ref name=mon/>
1599–1605 Hipatius Pociej Member of the Ruthenian Uniate Church
1605–1624 Yelisei Pletenecki Established the first printing press in Kyiv (1615)<ref name=mon/>
1624–1627 Zakhariy Kopystenski Well-known polemicist and theologian<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1627–1646 Peter Mogila Opened the monastery school (1631), in 1632 merged into the Kyiv Collegium<ref name=mon/>
1647-1655 Joseph Tryzna
1656–1683 Innocent (Giesel) Director of the monastery printing house, publisher of Kievan Synopsis (1674)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1684–1690 Varlaam Yasinski Subordinated the monastery to the Patriarch of Moscow (1688), while retaining its autonomy<ref name=mon/>
1691–1697 Meletius Wujachewicz-Wysoczynski
1697–1708 Joasaph Krokowski Theologian and ally of Ivan Mazepa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1709 Hilarion
1710–1714 Athanasius Myslawski
1715–1729 Joanicius Seniutovych A fire in 1718 destroyed the library and archive, as well as most buildings of the monastery<ref name=mon/>
1730–1736 Roman Kopa
1737–1740 Hilarion Nehrebecki
1740–1748 Timothy Szczerbacki Favourite of Elizabeth I of Russia, supporter of Hryhorii Skovoroda<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1748–1751 Joseph Oranski
1752–1761 Luka Bilousovych
1762–1786 Zosima Valkevych In 1786 the monastery's property was seized by the Russian government and the tradition of elected leadership was abolished<ref name=mon/>
Representatives of Metropolitan bishops of Kyiv
1787-1792 Callist Stefanov First prior appointed directly by the Metropolitan of Kyiv, who officially attained the title of archimandrite<ref name=mon/>
1792–1795 Theophilact Slonetsky
1795-1799 Hieronym Yanovsky
1800-1815 Joel Voskoboinykov
1815–1826 Antonius Smyrnytsky
1826–1834 Auxentius Halynsky
1844–1852 Laurentius Makarov
1852–1862 John Petin
1878–1884 Hilarion Yushenov
1884–1892 Juvenalius Polovtsev
1893–1896 Sergius Lanin
1896-1909 Antonius Petrushevsky
1909–1918 Ambrosius Bulgakov
Priors after the Revolution of 1917
1918-1920 Antony Khrapovitsky Opposed autocephaly of the Ukrainian church; removed from his post, later emigrated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1921-1924 Michael Mytrofanov Member of Ukrainian Synodal Church; confiscation of many relics by Soviet authorities (1921-22)<ref name=mon/>
1924-1926 Climent Zheretiyenko
1925-1929 Innocent Pustynsky Member of Ukrainian Synodal Church; closure of the monastery by authorities (1926)<ref name=mon/>
1926–1929 Hermogen Golubev
Monastery dissolved (1929-1942)
Representatives of Metropolitan bishops of Kyiv
1942-1947 Valerius Ustymenko
1947-1953 Cronides Sakun
1953-1961 Nestor Tuhay
Monastery dissolved (1961-1988)
Representatives of Metropolitan bishops of Kyiv
1988-1989 Jonathan Yeletskikh
1989-1992 Eleutherius Dydenko
1992 Pitirim Starynsky Member of Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate (UOC)
1992 Hyppolit Khilko Member of UOC
1994-2023 Paul Lebid Member of UOC; Dormition Cathdral rebuilt (1998-2000)<ref name=mon/>
since 2023 Abrahamius Lotysh Member of Orthodox Church of Ukraine

Buildings and structures

File:Perchersk Lavra, Kyiv Panorama.jpg
Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv, in 1889, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, D.C.

The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra contains numerous architectural monuments, ranging from bell towers to cathedrals to cave systems and to strong stone fortification walls. The main attractions of the Lavra include the Great Lavra Belltower, and the Dormition Cathedral, destroyed in fighting the Germans World War II, and fully reconstructed in the 1990s after the fall of Soviet Union by Ukraine.

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.Template:Cn

Great Lavra Belltower

Template:Main

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. It is a Classical style construction and consists of tiers, surmounted by a gilded dome.Template:Cn

Dormition Cathedral

File:Собор Успенський2.jpg
The restored Dormition Cathedral

Template:Main

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, during which the Soviet Union conducted the controversial 1941 Khreshchatyk explosions. Withdrawing Soviet troops practiced the tactics of scorched earth and blew up all the Kyiv bridges over Dnieper as well as the main Khreshchatyk street and Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> The destruction of the cathedral followed a pattern of Soviet disregard for cultural heritage, as they previously blew up the ancient St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery nearby in the 1930s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1928, the monastery was converted into an anti-religious museum park by the Soviet authorities and after their 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.<ref name=":1" />

Gate Church of the Trinity

Template:Main

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. 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.Template:Cn

Refectory chambers with Church of the Saints Anthony and Theodosius

Template:Main

File:Kijów zabytkowy (307).JPG
Refectory Church

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.Template:Cn

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.Template:Cn

Church of the Saviour at Berestove

Template:Main

File:Церква Спаса-на-Берестові, м. Київ.jpg
Side view of the Church of the Saviour at Berestove seen with its campanile, designed by architect Andrei Melenskyi in the Classical style.

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.Template:Cn Template:Clearleft

Caves

Template:Main

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.Template:Cn

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,<ref name="Touring Kyiv">Template:Cite book</ref> spreading awareness of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.Template:Cn

Library

The notable library of the Lavra was burned during the reign of Peter the Great. On the night of April 21-22, 1718, Orthodox monks — tsarist agents — set fire to the premises of the Lavra, where its library and archive with unique documents and books from the historical past of Ukraine were located.

In 1988, after the restoration of the monastery's activities, library work was resumed. The funds began to be replenished with those publications that the Lavra monks and parishioners managed to save. New books began to be purchased, and some of the books that began to be published by the Lavra printing house restored in 1995 were transferred to the library.

Over 20 years of activity after the revival of the monastery, more than 10 thousand volumes were collected. In 2008, the library was moved to premises that allow the best placement and organization of library funds. Accounting and cataloging of the Lavra library funds were digitized.

Necropolis

There are over a hundred burials in the Lavra. Below are the most notable ones

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.Template:Citation needed

Museum

File:Orthodox pilgrim.jpg
Eastern Orthodox pilgrim in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – women must cover their head when entering the lavra.

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.<ref name="Kyiv Sightseeing Guide"/> 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.<ref name="Kyiv Sightseeing Guide">Template:Cite book</ref>

The museum provides tours of the catacombs, which contain remains of Eastern Orthodox saints or their relics. The Caves are of geological interest because they are excavated into loess ground. They form one of the most extensive occurrences of loess caves in the world.Template:Citation needed

The Lavra museums include:

Images

See also

Notes

Template:Reflist

References

Template:Reflist

Sources

Template:Refbegin

Primary sources

Secondary sources

Template:Refend

Template:Commons category

Template:Navboxes Template:Ukrainian Lavras Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Kyiv_Pechersk_Lavra&oldid=295340"