Guide to Kyiv Pechersk Lavra [antikvár]

THE UPPER U\VRATHE UPPER LAVRASpread widely on the high right bank of the gray-haired Dniepro River and crowned with golden domes is the Holy Dormition Kyiv Pechersk Lavra - the pearl or Ancient Rus architecture, the fame and fortune of the first monks of the Kyiv land, and the joy for thousands of monks and pilgrims today. Ancient monastery on the Pechersk hills became the third principality of the Blessed Virgin Who patronizes the place and protects all those coming here to pray. "I wish to erect a church in Rus, in Kyiv and abide there" - said the Holy Mother to architects in Constantinople.By God's mercy, this holy place became home for incorrupt relics and miraculous icons; there's no other place in the world with so many shrines as in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and in Kyiv. No wonder the capital of Ukraine is called "the second Jerusalem."Lavra was founded in 1051; originally, it started as a deserted cave monastery near Kyiv, hence the name Kyiv Pechersk (Cave) Lavra. In 1062, with the increased number of monks, Lavra moved to the surface leaving the caves for burial of the rested brothers and ascetic feats of the monks.Kyiv Pechersk Lavra occupies an area of over 20 hectares with more than 100 buildings, and keeps more than 120 relics of saints and many revered icons. Although the monastery started from the Far Caves, the Holy Dormition Cathedral, or the Great Church, became with time the main part of Lavra and embodiment of the monastery's history.A pious guest or a pilgrim can enter the Upper Lavra via three gates: the Holy Gate - from the west, the Economic Gate - from the north, and the Cave Gate -from the south-west, i.e. from the Lower Lavra. The Holy Gate with the Church of the Holy Trinity above is the main entrance to the monastery. It is located in a recess of the western wall protecting the monastery. The walls of the recess are covered with paintings of St Fathers of the Near and the Far Caves: St Anthony holding an icon of the Holy Dormition in his hands surrounded by saints whose relics are now resting in the Near (Anthony's) Caves -to the left of the entrance, and St Theodosius holding a cross in his hand surrounded by the saints whose rehcs are now resting in the Far (Theodosius') Caves - to the right.I'. ^7V i