#andrii

What is Kyiv Pechersk Lavra? Great question! 

It is a monastery that was founded in the 1051 in Kyiv by monk Anthony of Kyiv or monks Anthony of Kyiv and Theodosius of Kyiv (there are multiple versions).

The word “Pechersk” comes from prsl. *реktera — a cave. ukr. pechera.

The caves  were the first and the primary part of the monastery (later they will be connected to the man-made cave structures and become Дальні печери —. “The further caves”)

The Near Caves of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Sketch by the Dutch artist Abraham van Westerveld made in 1651

Later in 1058 and forward Lavra will be gifted land around the caves and the wooden church, as well as other buildings will be added to its territory.

Lavra then suffers from plundering of Cumans in 1096, as well as from Golden Horde invaders in 1416 who burn it to the ground. Lavra was only rebuilt around 1470.

This makes it impossible for Armand to study in Lavra pre 1470. So we will take 1475 ish as the date of him arriving  to Lavra and studying painting icons.

And here let’s start debunking the myths I have encountered:

1. Andrii was a child (?)

No children would be allowed in Lavra, especially as monks/understudies. He woould be in his early to mid 20s.

2. Andrii would be frequently going into Lavra’s catacombs.

Well, no. It is important to understand that Lavra was (is) enormous. Catacombs were not a place to work/live. The catacombs are actually a part of Ближні печери —The Close/Near Caves,  which is a different cave system from The Further Caves. The Close Caves are situated right under the main Lavra building.

We have some evidence that during 1240 (Mongolian Siege of Kyiv) monks were living there for safety reasons. Additionally we do have some bones to suggest later burials of the monks (not to be confused with the remains of the saints!).

However, due to destruction of Lavra in 1416 we’ve lost almost all of the written sources for second half of XIII cent - end of XVI cent, which poses additional issues for Ukrainian researchers to this very day. 

We do not have any evidence to suggest that Andrii. as a painter understudy, would be frequenting the catacombs.

3. Catacombs were spooky and traumatizing

User who made this claim referred to her childhood experience of going there on the guided tour in 2009 and oh well, they were kinda unnerving to me when I was twelve too! 

However, it is very important to understand that 

Lavra monks and potential understudies of XV cent. were religious adults

The remains of the saints are not considered scary, they are considered holy. The Close Caves were (are) a place of prayer and remembrance.

4. Remains of the saints are live burials that are actively decaying and smell like rotten bodies

The worst smell you will encounter in The Close Caves is moisture and stuffed air. (it has no windows, duh)

Remains of the saints (also known as relics) are usually mummified remains of the people who died looong time ago. Within the Athosian tradition, the body of a saint was considered a relic if after the (long) process of decomposing in the ground, the bones still had (usually dry and mummified) flesh on them. There were instances (1472) where just the bones were left in the coffin and they were still considered saintly remains. Do note that 99% of relics are not whole bodies, but usually a finger/a hand/a leg/a part of a skull.

PEOPLE WERE NOT BURIED ALIVE. They would be buried, canonized after their death (usually DECADES later), then exhumated and transfered to a cathedral/church/etc. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

Roman catholics have a similar practice where they encrust relics in gold (e.g. Roman Catacomb saints).

We don’t do it as much, especially not in Lavra. There they lie in glass coffins.

Examples of the Orthodox relics, incl. ones from the Lavra

Here is a walk-through video of The Close Caves

You can also visit Lavra’s website and walk around it on google maps to feel just how big it is.

This article contains a full 3d model of the Uspenskii Cathedral allowing you to look at all of the icons, drawing and ornaments inside.

And now Lavra appreciation time!

Bonus:

Lavra view 1702, Tarasevych Leontii

Tagging people I've seen reblogging the post because I really need yall to have a more accurate understanding of what Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is. We have enough misinformation around as is, I can't in good faith allow a very real place with real people to be demonized in this way.