The Cave Monastery

The Kyiv Monastery of the Caves in Ukraine, is so much more than the underground corridors the name refers to. It is like a small walled village. The cave systems are just a part of the over 20 hectares. They are cool to have experienced, but I loved the beautiful churches, and especially the splendid views from the 96.5 meters high Great Lavra Bell Tower. The climb is not too bad, and you get views of the monastery area, the churches – the gorgeous Dormition Cathedral and the lovely roof of the Refectory Church in particular, and the river and city.

Unless you have a fear of tight spaces, you should also pop into one of the two cave systems. We ended up doing both, but that might not be necessary. Before going underground, you need to put on a skirt. You’ll find free of charge ones on a rack by the door, unless you bring your own. You also need to light a candle, which you bring with you into the dark. These you purchase at the shop, which the entrance itself lies within. After all that, you’re set to enter. So, the passages you go into are small. I am 157 cm, and I had to watch my head at times. You are able to pass people, but no more than that in width. At one place a man came rushing out, as we went in, saying it was way too crowded and no air. I could feel a slight worry building, but decided to block it out, and carry on. There are definitely many worshippers down there, but luckily you don’t get the scope of it due to the dim, and the fact that it is kind of spread out. Meaning, you walk a maze of corridors, along which there are small dug out chapels, which each mainly contains a glass top coffin. Taking in to account there are relics of more than 120 saints, there might be just as many chapels…? There’s also living quarters, but I didn’t see any. Maybe we spent too little time, or didn’t go deep enough into the cavern complex.

Above ground many of the churches and buildings are open to visitors. I didn’t find them as impressive inside as outside, but there was one very fun experience, the Micro Miniature Museum. It exhibits pieces that are visible only by looking at them though a microscope. Nikolai Siadristy has put art works on poppy seeds and strand of hair, and made a violin less than 4 mm long, among other things. So much cool stuff, and mind-blowing! A man in front of us made a comment: I think you are tricking us 🙂

I am so glad I changed my mind on visiting Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Highly recommended!

The Kyiv Monastery of the Caves is not in downtown Kyiv, so you might want to get an Uber.

Website: lavra.ua