Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is the oldest Orthodox monastery of Rus and Ukraine. Its founder was a monk Anthony of Lubech, who took his monastiс vows on Mount Athos. He came to Kiev to spread monasticism in Rus and dwelled in a cave above the Dnypro. One of Anthony’s first diciples, Theodosius, became the co-founder of the monastery. At first the cenobities lived in caves and prayed in underground temples. Later on surface structures were built.
Prince Iziaslav gave the monastery the plateau on which the so-called Upper Lavra was erected. The strict statue of the ancient Studiyskaya Cloister provided the basis for the life of the monks. Over the centuries Kiev-Pechersk Lavra attracted numerous hermits and multitude of piligrims. Beautiful stone churches decorated with drawings, as well as cells, towers and otherbuildings arose here. The Lavra played a major role in the cultural history of Russia and Ukraine. It is connected with the name of scribe Nestor, the educator Piotr Mogila and many others. More than once the Lavra buildings were destroyed (in 1718 a horrible fire devastated the monastery, and under Nazi occupation of 1941-1943), but every time the Lavra rose from ashes. Under the Soviet regime, the monastery complex was used as a “museum town” under the Kiev-Pechers Historical and Cultural Reserve. Now there is an acting congregation on the territory of Lavra. It has been on the UNESCO Register of World Heritage since 1990.