Ukraine. Kiev-Pechersk Lavra-Mecca for monks

Ukraine.  Kiev-Pechersk Lavra-Mecca for monks
To hear from others, to watch videos or edited films-all this is good for familiarization and making a primary presentation, but only travel can help you really feel and see directly in real conditions.
Religious people have always understood this, so they did not have any questions about why pilgrims go to the Holy places and worship the shrines. It is only when one is near such a place that one can feel for oneself what it really means to one and see the spiritual horizons that are opening up to one.

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra-recognized center of Orthodox Christianity

Most of the faithful go to Kiev to touch expensive shrines. This city was often compared to Rome, Jerusalem, and Mecca. The Kiev Lavra is rightfully recognized as the cultural cradle of Ancient Russia. It was in the monastery located here that the first Russian chronicle was written in the X!-XII centuries. The historian of the Russian land Nestor, the doctor Agapit, the painter Alimpiy – these are very dear names for those who carefully preserve the memory of their ancestors, understanding the great significance of culture.

Icon Of The Assumption Of The Mother Of God

The Holy icon of the Dormition Of the mother of God is considered miraculous. According to legend, it was given to the Greek masters by the most Holy mother of God. The original disappeared in 1941. Today, one of its copies is located above the Royal gate in the Holy cross Church and is also considered to work miracles. In times of particularly painful events, the faithful passionately addressed their prayers to this Holy icon.

In 1677, when Kiev was in danger from the Turks, the icon was carried around the city all day on August 27. 1709-in front of this ancient Shrine, Peter I prayed before going to the battle of Poltava, and after, when he returned with a victory, he offered thanks before the icon. The veneration of the Holy image is very large in our days - the inextinguishable lamp burning in front of her. After the Liturgy, the Holy icon of the Dormition of the mother of God is lowered for worship.

Monasteries Of The Lavra

In the XX century there were 6 monasteries in the Lavra:
• The Main monastery was founded at the great Pechersk Church, also called the assumption Cathedral, where the Holy icon of the Dormition of the mother of God was located,
* The creation of the Trinity Hospital monastery dates back to the XII century. It is believed that it was founded by the Chernihiv Prince Nikola Svyatosh, a descendant of Yaroslav the Wise.
* Caves Near and Far. Here the saints rest. These caves are separated by a mountain ridge and a ravine.
* Svyato-Pokrovskaya Goloseevskaya desert. This monastery is located in the heart of an ancient Park, in a beautiful picturesque area. In 1993, the skete of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra was restored on the territory of the Goloseevskaya desert. In the same year, the first Liturgy was held in honor of John Sochavsky.
* The kitayevskaya desert became the burial place of many ascetics of the Lavra. Located here, the Holy Trinity Kitaevsky monastery has largely preserved its ancient appearance. Preserving, honoring and worshiping the main shrines of the monastery, the brethren take care of the spiritual revival of the Holy monastery.

Development of printing and education

In the XVII century, a printing house was created in the monastery, which allows the monastery to become a true center of enlightenment. Prominent scholars and literatures recognize the significance of this organization and group around it. In 1674, a history textbook "synopsis"was published here. A school was established in the Pechersk monastery. Later, it formed the basis of the Kyiv-Mohyla Collegium, which became the first higher school.

Monastic singing

The style of singing in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra has always been a model for singing practice in both Metropolitan and provincial churches. Polyphonic chants preserved singing traditions and resisted foreign influences, protected Church music from distortions and deviations from the Church-canonical basis. The chant of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was received by the largest monasteries in the Moscow region. The careful attitude of singers to the basics of Church singing, combining polyphony with chant, testifies to the preservation of ancient singing traditions in modern conditions.


Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and modern life

In 1988, Kiev widely celebrated the 1000th anniversary of an extremely important event-the baptism of Rus. In connection with the celebration of the newly established monastic community was transferred to the Far caves. In 1990, UNESCO added the Kiev Pechersk Lavra to the world heritage list due to its special significance. The cultural criteria by which the assessment was made, remarkably characterize its high significance for the living and their descendants:
* a masterpiece of genius creative activity of people,
• high significance of human values in the cultural space,
* unique to the cultural tradition,
• an outstanding example of an architectural ensemble.