Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is the most famous sight-seeing object in Kyiv, which has been included in UNESCO World Heritage Register. Monastery Complex has been wonderful ornamentation and fame of Pechersk for ages. It is the object of worship of all Orthodox world. Monastery Monks Antony and Feodosiy founded it in 1051.
Antony settled in the cave on one of Kyiv's hills, where Illaryon had lived before the future metropolitan Kyivskyi. A lot of people with belief in their heart started to visit him, some of them began to join him. In such a way 12 monks gathered together to widen the cave and build the churches (nowadays it is the territory of the Far caves). The life of monks has begun…
The primary goal of the monastery was to spread the newly adopted Christian religion. A cave is "pechera" in Ukrainian, hence the name of monastery.
Monks worshipped and lived in the caves, which still can be visited. The monks were also buried in these caves. The mixture of the cool temperatures and humid atmosphere of the caves allowed the bodies of the dead to mummify.
This twenty-eight hector functioning monastery contains numerous churches, towers, a printing works, miles of maze like underground tunnels containing numerous churches and some of Kyiv's riches museums.
Nowadays the territory of sanctuary includes:
- Great Lavra belfry. Coming up to the top the marvelous view of all Kyiv spread beneath. The height is 96,5 meters (paid entrance).
- Loads of temples: Uspenskyi cathedral, Troyskaya church, Trapeznaya church, Krestovozdvygshenskaya church, Annozachatyevskaya church, the church of Virgin's Christmas, Voskresenskaya church.
- The restoration workshops.
- Museums: of Historical Treasures of Ukraine, of micro miniature, of book printing.
- The Near and Far caves with holy remains and underground churches are particular sights for pilgrims