Ukraine's oldest monastery marks 975 years amid war damage and restoration
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra marks 975 years. Restoration of the fire-damaged Dormition Cathedral is underway, with officials detailing repair plans and historical context.
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of Eastern Orthodox Christianity's most revered sites, has marked its 975th anniversary this year against the backdrop of war. The UNESCO-listed complex, also known as the Monastery of the Caves, sustained significant damage in June when the Dormition Cathedral was set ablaze during a Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities.
Ivan Yakovenko, Deputy Director General of the Lavra, said a temporary roof covering has already been installed to protect the building from moisture. Specialists from Lviv Polytechnic have prepared a cost estimate of 26.7 million hryvnias (nearly $596,000) for a more permanent protective roof. The Ministry of Culture has approved the funding, and an open bidding process will be launched once the funds are transferred.
Yakovenko also explained that the interior paintings were damaged by water. An electrical short circuit occurred while firefighters were extinguishing the blaze, causing water to enter the building. Crews are currently drying the premises to prevent the growth of fungus and mold.
The Lavra, a sprawling complex of monasteries and churches built between the 11th and 19th centuries, overlooks the Dnieper River and has been a pilgrimage destination for centuries. Some of its churches are connected by a labyrinth of caves spanning more than 600 meters.
Oleh Rychok, head of the caves department, spoke about the relics of the Venerable Elias of the Caves, describing them as the remains of a holy warrior who lived in the twelfth century and was a monk, most likely at the Lavra.
Kateryna Voievodska, head of the tours department, placed the current conflict in a longer historical context. She said Moscow's claims to the spiritual authority of the Kyiv Metropolis did not begin twelve years ago, but much earlier, pointing to attempts dating back to the twelfth century and intensifying during the time of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, when Peter the Great sought to subordinate the Lavra to the Moscow Patriarchate.