Kiev Pechersk Lavra or in English, Kiev Cave Monastery was first constructed nearly a 1000 years ago in the year 1051. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra is a must visit place of Kiev.
After about 10 minutes walk from the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the World War II, I’ve reached Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
The complex is divided into the upper lavra and lower lavra. A lavra is a senior monastery, while pecherska means ‘of the caves’. The Greek St. Antony founded this lavra in 1051.
There are few notable structures at the Perchersk Lavra such as the Great Lavra Belltower, Dormition Cathedral, Gate Church of Trinity and of course the Caves! The first place I headed to was towards the lower lavra which contains the caves.
The complex labyrinth cave that expands more than 600m also houses chapels and living quarters. If you don’t have a guide, you can easily lost your sense of direction inside the caves. You can engage a guide for an excursion to the caves. But since I already have my own guide, I don’t need this service.
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Entrance to the lower lavra and the caves is free but to enter the caves, women must wear a headscarf and either a skirt that extends below their knees or wrap a cloth around the waist. Both headscarf and waist wrap are provided for free at the site.
The monastery building which houses the caves. You can’t take photo inside the caves. But even if you try, chances are you won’t get any good photos since the underground labyrinths are dark and only lit by candles. The underground corridors are surrounded by catacombs. The bodies are mummified remains of monks. For centuries, the cave monastery has been one of the most important Christian Orthodox pilgrimage centres of the world.
After visiting the caves, I moved to the upper lavra. To enter the upper lavra, however, you need to buy a ticket.
This is the ticket price list and opening time of the lavra.
Behind me is the Dormition Cathedral which is built in 11th century. This main church of the monastery was destroyed during the World War II after the Nazi Germany troops occupied the city of Kiev. The current Dormition Cathedral was reconstructed in 1995. You can still see part of the original building which is the brownish part in contrast of the new white painted part.
Dormition Cathedral is also known as Upensky Cathedral.
Managed to sneak one photograph of the Dormition Church’s interior before someone telling us “no photos”. Come on, the interior of the church isn't even original!
Located beside the Dormition Cathedral is the Refectory Church. This is where the Lavra monks had their meals. The refractory was constructed at a time where more than 1000 monks lived in the monastery from 1893 –1895.
The interior of the Refectory Church is beautiful especially the paintings on the inside of the dome.
Just beautiful!
Ciborium over the former well of the Monastery.
Next, I visited an interesting museum, a museum which exhibits microscopic miniatures.
Wooden stools are provided so that children can stand on top and look into the microscope.
These are the works of world microminiature master Mykola Syadristy. Among his creations are a golden chess set on a pin head which is my personal favourite.
You won’t be able to miss the Great Lavra Belltower. Standing at 96.5m, it was apparently the tallest free-standing bell tower at that time of its construction in 1731-1745.
A description of the Bell Tower of Dormition Cathedral.
The bell tower offers a commanding view of Kiev and the climb is really worth it.
There are many Orthodox churches in the compound.
Gate Church of the Trinity as viewed from the bell tower.
It seems as if I’m wearing Motherland monument on the top of my head like a hat. Haha. I’m still thankful that the photo is not blur at least.
The Motherland monument of Kiev and Kiev Pechersk Lavra can be see along the Dnieper River.
The top tier of the bell tower is of course the tier where the bells are.
The main bell of the bell tower.
View of Dormition Cathedral (left) and Refectory Church (right) from the bell tower.
The map of entire compound of Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
Built in 1106, the Gate Church is part of the Pechersk Lavra fortification serving as the main entrance to the monastery. Gate Church of the Trinity was undergoing renovation works. So I didn’t go inside.
This is the other side of Gate Church of the Trinity after I exited the monastery compound. There are oil paintings on the exterior walls leading to the Holy Gates below the church.
With this, I left Kiev Pechersk Lavra and went for lunch.
Beautiful..
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