Kievo Pechersky Lavra (Monastery) in Kiev
Adress of the sight: 15 Lavrska Str., Kiev, Ukraine.
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Kievo Pechersky Lavra (Monastery) is one of the first monasteries founded in Rus’. It is based in 1051 in the time of Yaroslav the Wise reigning by monk Antony, who was originally from Lyubech. Feodosii, one of the first Antony’s pupils became the co-founder of the Pecherskii monastery. Prince Svyatoslav II, presented to a plateau monastery over caves where later the beautiful stone temples grew; they were decorated with paintings, cells, serf towers and other structures. Names of chronicler Nestor (the author of «The story of temporary years») and artist Alipy are connected with the monastery .
From 1592 till 1688 the church was a stauropegial church of the Constantinople Patriarch; since 1688 the church got the status of monastery and became «Stauropegial church of imperial and patriarchal Moscow»; in 1786 the Lavra was subordinated to the Kiev metropolite who became its Saint Archimandrite.
In the near and far caves of Monastery imperishable relics of God’s flatterers are based, also in Monastery there are also burials of laymen (for example, Peter Arkadyevich Stolypin’s grave).
Now the bottom Monastery is under authority of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (the Moscow Patriarchy), and the top Monastery is under the authority of the National Kyivo Pechersky historical and cultural reserve.
Kievo Pechersky Lavra issituated in the Kiev center, on the right there is a high coast of Dnieper, and it occupies two hills, divided by the deep hollow which is going down to Dnieper. In the XI century the district was covered with the wood; here the priest Ilarion of the nearby village Berestova, who dug for himself a cave, came for a prayer. In 1051 Ilarion was charged as the metropolite of Kiev and his cave became empty. At about that time monk Antony, who was originaly from the city Lyubech came to Kiev from Athos; he didn’t enjoy the life in the Kiev monasteries, and he lodged in Ilarion’s cave.