Archimandrite Pimen, head of the pilgrimage department of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra: “Our plane was saved by the monks of the Pechersk.

On the second Sunday of Great Lent, the memory of all the saints of the Kiev-Pechersk is celebrated. Not so long ago, the Pechersk saints showed great mercy - after centuries they returned the ancient treatise “Teraturgima” with a collection of miracles they performed. Miracles in the Lavra continue to this day, as evidenced by the testimonies of many parishioners, pilgrims and priests. Today we are publishing one of these stories.

I have flown to distant countries many times, traveled many roads, but I will never forget this incident. In obedience to the head of the pilgrimage department of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, I have to accompany those wishing to pray to different countries several times a year. At the end of May 2007 we were supposed to fly to Turkey. Before departure, I went down into the caves, bowed and venerated the relics of the reverend fathers. I asked them for holy prayers, to keep us from temptations and troubles, to guide our path. I definitely go to the caves before every trip, and without the blessing of the Pechersk Fathers I do not dare to set off on the road.

A rich program awaited us - acquaintance with Orthodox shrines ancient Byzantium, visiting the capital of the empire, Constantinople, present-day Istanbul. We were to see many interesting historical monuments on the islands. From Kyiv Boryspil Airport we flew to Istanbul. There were 12 people in the group, a well-trained team, people who were obviously churchgoers. In general, everything went as usual. The flight went smoothly, as usual. City buildings and highways already appeared below, passengers fastened their seat belts, preparing to board. But when the plane began to land, and the runway appeared below us, 300 meters away, the engines suddenly roared with extreme force.

The cabin vibrated convulsively, and the pale stewardesses ran away in alarm along the aisle to the cockpit, leaving behind the worried passengers. None of them understood what was happening, but it was clear that something completely extraordinary was happening. I fervently prayed to the Lord and the Mother of God, mentally crying out to the venerable fathers of Pechersk for help and salvation. Other pilgrims also prayed, as probably all the passengers. For several more endless seconds, vibration shook the hovering liner, as if our fate was being decided somewhere. Finally, with incredible effort, the plane began to gain altitude again.

The passengers were left alone, all the flight attendants hid. There was no one to ask what was happening. We were just watching what was happening. The plane took off, made another circle and only then finally landed. No one made any explanation, and the shocked passengers were left in the dark. Finally the flight attendants came out. They were, to put it mildly, excited. They simply didn't have a face. I think they understood the complexity of the moment much better than us. If the plane had dropped a little lower, it would hardly have been able to rise again. We were literally a few meters away from the disaster. Maybe not everyone understood the fate of the moment, but I did. I understood and felt that our fate then did not depend on the pilots and human efforts. Our plane was saved by the Lord through the prayers of the Pechersk monks.

And when we were returning back, a woman from Kyiv was flying with us, who is engaged in trade and goes to Turkey to buy things. She came up to me: “I remember you, we flew with you to Istanbul. Do you know what happened when we landed?” “I don’t know,” I say. “But I think something serious is happening if the plane had to take off again.” The woman clenched her hands: “Then there was an emergency: a car suddenly drove onto the runway, scattering birds. She shouldn't have been there, but for some reason she suddenly appeared there. And if the plane had landed, it would most likely have hit her. In such catastrophic situations, the plane even burns out.” The woman said that in a Turkish newspaper she then saw a headline, it seems “On the verge of disaster” and read information about emergency situation at the airport and our extraordinary landing.

But the monks of Pechersk saved us, and it was a real miracle. Everything, thank God, worked out and ended well. All the pilgrims prayed fervently in those moments, and the Lord preserved and protected us. Once again, I re-realized the cost of our salvation and the criticality of the situation recently, when at the end of 2014, in a similar situation at Vnukovo airport, a famous French businessman, flying on a private plane, died. Then I entered the lane snow blower and the plane, having caught it, crashed - it exploded in the air.

When we returned to Kyiv, and I crossed the Holy Gates of the Lavra, I immediately went to the Near and Far Caves to thank the Reverend Fathers. This cannot be explained by any rational arguments, but I knew that it was they who saved us. Indeed, in dangerous, critical moments, a person can feel and listen to what usually remains hidden from him. The enemy did his best, creating all the prerequisites for an accident, but the saints of God did not allow their treachery to take place.

The fragrance of Heavenly Jerusalem in the Lavra Caves

I also remember another miracle that we witnessed in 1992, on July 31, on the day of remembrance of St. John the Long-Suffering. I was still a monk then. Somewhere around 11 o'clock, when we had already served a prayer service at the relics of the saint, who had suffered a lot from the attack of demons, another brother and I came to our obedience in the Near Caves. Everyone took their place, but soon the brother came up and said to me: “Go quickly to John the Long-Suffering! There is such a fragrance there!” There were very few people left in the caves, but everyone who was there heard this extraordinary fragrance and received great consolation and joy.

Who is buried in the Lavra caves?

If you analyze a number of publications on the history of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the LIST OF PECHERSK PLEASES can be given in the following form:

I. Mentioned in the 2nd Cassian edition of the Patericon, they labored and were buried in the Lavra:

A) Theodosius abbot (the relics rested in the Far Caves; in 1091 they were found and transferred to the throne church of the Lavra, where in 1240 they were hidden under a bushel);

B) The rest of the Saints of this group rest in the Near Caves:

2. Anthony (under cover)

3. Varlaam abbot (died about 1065)

4. Nikon abbot (d. 1088)

5. Nestor the Chronicler (d. about 1114)

6. Alypius the icon painter (d. about 1114)

7. Agapit the doctor (died about 1095)

8. Damian presbyter, physician (d. before 1074)

9. Onesiphorus presbyter, clairvoyant (d. XII)

10. Jeremiah saw. (died approx. 1070)

11. Matthew saw the light. (died approx. 1088)

12. Isaac the Recluse (dec. XI)

13. Lavrentiy zatv. (d.XII)

14. Afanasy shutter (d. about 1176)

15. Gregory the Wonderworker (d. 1093)

16. Moses Ugrin (i.e. Hungarian; d.XI)

17. John the Long-Suffering (d. about 1160)

18. Pimen the Many-Sick (d. 1110)

19. Prokhor the Lebednik (d. 1107; received his nickname for distributing bread to the poor, which he made from quinoa and transformed it into sweet with prayer)

20. Mark the Cave-Grave Digger (d.XII)

21. Theophilus the lachrymose (d.XII)

22. John, brother of Theophilus (not named in the handwritten Patericon; d.XII)

23. Vasily the Venerable Martyr. (d.1098)

24. Theodore the Venerable Martyr. (d.1098)

25. Evstratiy Venerable Martyr. (d.1097)

26. Kuksha sacred martyr. (d.XII)

27. Spiridon prosphora (d. XII)

28. Nicodemus prosphora (d. XII)

29. Pimen the faster (d. XII)

30. Nikon Sukhoi (d. early XII; body withered from wounds received in Polovtsian captivity)

31. Nikolai Svyatosha (in the world the nominal prince of Chernigov Svyatoslav; d. 1143)

32. Erasmus (d. XII)

33. Arefa (d. XII)

34. Titus the presbyter (d. XII)

35. Archimandrite Polycarp (d. 1182)

36. Ephraim, bishop. Pereyaslavsky (d. late XI)

37. Nifont, bishop. Novgorodsky (d. 1156)

38. Simon, bishop. Vladimir-Suzdal (d. 1226)

39-50. 12 brothers of architects and icon painters who built and decorated the throne church of the Lavra (the handwritten “Paterikon” does not indicate their exact number).

II. Not mentioned in the 2nd Cassian edition, they labored and were buried in the Lavra:

NEARBY CAVES:

51. Abraham the hardworking

52. Avraamiy zatv.

53. Alexy zatv.

54. Anastasy Deacon

55. Anatoly

56. Gregory the icon painter

57. Elladius zatv.

58. Ilya Muromets (warrior, prototype of the epic hero)

59. Isaiah the wonderworker

60. John the faster

61. Luka economy

62. Macarius

63. Nectary

64. Onesimus zatv.

65. Onuphry the silent

67. Sergius the obedient

68. Sylvester

69. Sisoy zatv.

70. Feofan the faster

71. Theophilus zatv.

72. Dionysius, archbishop. Suzdal (1385; tonsure of the Lavra; the relics were either hidden or disturbed during enemy invasions).

FAR CAVES:

73. Agathon the Wonderworker

74. Akhila the deacon

75. Ammon zatv.

76. Anatoly zatv.

77. Arseny the hardworking

78. Afanasy zatv.

79. Benjamin

80. Gerontius Canonarch

81. Gregory the Wonderworker

82. Dionysius zatv.

83. Euthymius the schema-monk

84. Vladimir the Holy Martyr, Metropolitan of Kiev (d. 1918; the relics rested in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Near Caves, in 1992 they were found and transferred to the Far Caves)

85. Zechariah the faster

86. Zinon the faster

87. Ignatius Archimandrite (d. XV)

88. Hilarion the schema-monk

89. Hypaty the doctor

90. Joseph the Many-Sick

91. Cassian zatv.

92. Lavrentiy zatv.

93. Leonty Canonarch

94. Longinus goalkeeper

95. Lucian the martyr (d. XIII)

96. Macarius Deacon

97. Mardari zatv.

100. Mercury fasting

101. Moses the miracle worker

102. Nestor Neknizhny

103. Pavel is obedient

104. Paisiy

105. Pamva zatv.

106. Pankratiy hieromonk

107. Paphnutius zatv.

108. Pimen fasting

109. Pior zatv.

110. Ruf zatv.

111. Silouan the schema-monk

112. Sisoy the schema-monk

113. Sophrony zatv.

114. Titus the warrior (accepted monasticism)

115. Theodore the silent

116. Theodore, Prince of Ostrog (accepted monasticism; d. XV)

117. Philaret the Saint, Metropolitan of Kiev (Amphitheaters; died 1857; the relics rested in the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Near Caves; in 1994 they were found and transferred to the Far Caves).

PATRONAL ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL (under cover):

118. Pavel the Saint, Metropolitan of Tobolsk (d. 1770; came from the Lavra, ended his days there while being mowed)

119. Peter Mogila Saint, Metropolitan of Kyiv

IV. They did not labor in the Lavra, but were buried:

NEARBY CAVES:

120. John, Russian First Martyr, son of the Varangian Theodore (killed in 983 by pagan Kievites)

121. Juliania, Princess Olshanskaya (died no later than 1540; the relics rested hidden near the Assumption Cathedral, were found incorrupt at the beginning of the 17th century and left in the indicated temple; during the fire of 1718 they were burned and transferred to the Near Caves)

123. Mercury, ep. Smolensky

FAR CAVES:

124. Euphrosyne of Polotsk (reposed in the 12th century in Jerusalem, from where the relics were transferred to Kyiv, in 1910 - to the city of Polotsk; the coffin of the Venerable One with a particle of her hand was left in the Lavra)

125. Theophilus, archbishop. Novgorodsky (d. 1485; suffering from illness, he traveled to the shrines of the Lavra caves and reposed in sight of Kyiv on the left bank of the Dnieper)

126. The baby killed by Herod for Christ (part of the relics was brought to the Lavra in 1620 by the Jerusalem Patriarch Theophan)

127. Clement, bishop. Roman (the chapter was brought in 988 from Tauride Chersonesos to Kyiv and was originally located in the Tithe Church)

IN OTHER PLACES buried and then transferred to the Lavra Caves:

128. Michael, Metropolitan of Kiev (a contemporary of St. Prince Vladimir; the relics rested in the Tithe Church, from where they were transferred to the Near Caves; from 1730 - in the Assumption Cathedral).

129. Vladimir, Equal. Prince of Kiev (the head was found by St. Peter Mogila during excavations of the ruins of the Church of the Tithes; in the late 30s of the twentieth century, it was taken from the Assumption Cathedral for examination in Leningrad and disappeared without a trace)

130. Stephen Archdeacon, First Martyr (the index finger was brought to the Lavra at the beginning of the 18th century from the Moldavian Nyametsky Monastery by the Roman Archbishop Pachomius, who lived in retirement at the Pechersk Monastery)

On the plans of the caves of the 17th-19th centuries. and in a number of other documents some other Pechersk Saints are mentioned.

So, 130 “God’s saints” are located in one place in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Is it a lot or a little?

A lot for the UOC-MP! There is also a lot for the monastery itself, because all these relics and burials require continuous supervision and care, but they also attract millions of believers and even more ordinary tourists to the Lavra!

And if you, dear reader, decide to leave your worldly affairs and visit Kiev for a few hours-Pechersk Lavra, I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the contents of this book: « Kiev-Pechersk Pateriik "here is the link to the site where you can read it http://www.sedmitza.ru/lib/text/438020/, and here is the link to the site

Knowledge of this important information about all those 130 faces that are listed above will help you better understand the attractiveness and mystery of the places where you will come!

In the caves themselves where the POWERS of “God’s saints” are kept, in addition to the relics themselves, there are other objects for worship, and also, according to the assurances of the clergy, “MIRACLES” happened and even sometimes still happen in the caves for believers who came to worship at the holy places.

But first, a short story about the care of the RELICS and their burial places. This is essentially exclusive information!

When the Lavra was an atheistic museum, there was practically no special care there was no one behind the caves (to put it briefly, they simply supported them so that they wouldn’t fall in!), but with the revival of the Lavra as a functioning monastery, the situation changed outwardly for the better.

From among the monks of the Lavra, two special groups were allocated for the Near and Far caves, which were entrusted with a special “OBEDIENCE”, consisting of the maintenance of cleanliness and cleanliness in the Lavra caves. general order. These two special groups of monks are commanded by 2 special Lavra archimandrites.

CARE of relics

130 saints of the Pechersk saints currently have their own “wardrobe” of several brocade bedspreads and trim ( special face covering; as a sign that the monk has retired from this world and contemplates Heaven).

On ordinary days, the relics are covered with a green veil and casing; during Lent they are dressed in black, and on Easter - in red.

During the period of Peter's Lent, when it is especially hot, the relics of the saints are taken to a special room (on the third floor above the nearby caves. - Author), they take off all their clothes and dry them in the garden until the evening.

They don’t leave it on overnight so that the dew doesn’t get it wet, but they put it on the next day.

All clothes are signed, there is no way to mix them up. The relics lie on wooden trays wrapped in monastic cotton fabric, and the saints themselves are wrapped in quilted jackets.

By the way, before the revolution, the relics were open, and padded jackets protected them from drops of oil or wax.

The covers over the relics were placed in Soviet times by museum workers (in the 20s of the 20th century)

There is such a legend that one day a man approached the relics, pretended that he wanted to kiss the saint’s hand, but in fact decided to bite it in mockery.

He gnawed it and froze, unable to tear himself away.

He stood there until he asked the saints for forgiveness and repented. It was after that incident that the covers were installed.

The relics are still kept in padded jackets, and above them there is a beautiful brocade coverlet. When the nearby caves were transferred to the Lavra in 1988, it turned out that only the lower coverings of some saints had decayed, but the relics had been lying there for 900 years.

According to the stories of the monks, when the POWERS are re-clothed, such a wonderful fragrant smell comes out, and there is no decay - “simply a miracle”!

By the way, everyone can feel it if you go into the caves at about six in the morning, provided that you are allowed in at that time.”

But this is the “first miracle,” but it is not the main thing in the general list of miracles of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

For example, there is a MIRACLE: “MYRRHESTING CHAPTERS”

One of the most striking impressions in the distant caves is 25 vessels with ancient skulls, called “myrrh-streaming heads.”

“It is only known that one chapter belongs to Bishop Clement of Rome, who suffered for his faith in Christ during the period of persecution at the beginning of the 2nd century AD, the rest of the names are unknown, it has been in our Lavra since 1200.

The chapters are kept here in glass and silver vessels because they have the miraculous property of exuding myrrh, which is then used for anointings during services. Myrrh falls on the heads like dew, and then collects at the bottom of the vessels."

The presence of myrrh-streaming heads (SKULLS) in the Lavra, according to the Lavra clergy, there are excellent detectors inner life monastery

Figuratively speaking, if everything is good in the monastery, myrrh is released regularly and little by little.

If there is some kind of misfortune, they may stop streaming myrrh altogether, and if there is great joy, on the contrary, the heads may drown in peace.

But the heads did not stream myrrh all the time.

For example, in the 19th century they did not stream myrrh for 50 years, and then they started again. whether.

In 1958, three years before the closure of the Lavra in Soviet times, the heads stopped streaming myrrh.

Although in fairness it must be said that during the USSR the heads were treated quite carefully and, thank God, they were not destroyed in an anti-religious frenzy. They were simply “perceived” as museum exhibits.

And as proof of the “priest’s deception of the people.” Personally, I still remember how in 1976, on excursions, they said that the monks allegedly deceived the people and poured special oil on the chapters to confuse them.

Although, starting from the 80s of the last century, Ukrainian scientists, naturally, at the instigation of the all-powerful Communist Party of Ukraine, tried to understand the numerous miracles of the Lavra! I will tell you about these “cases” in the next part!

The monks themselves, among those assigned to store the RELICS in the caves, told Ukrainian journalists that one monk somehow decided to test this atheistic theory - he poured oil on one of the chapters.

After this, the skull was covered with green moss. It turned out that the heads do not perceive anything foreign.

When we came here in June 1988, we began to pray and hold services, the heads first became wet, and then began to release droplets of peace.

I remember one chapter just floating in the world - up to half of the vessel had leaked, and they are quite big - two or three liters each!

At that time they even gave us myrrh in bottles for worship and healing the infirm.

Then the governor of the Lavra, Jonathan (Eletskikh), gave part of the world for research to the St. Petersburg Institute of Biology.

As a result, it was found that the substance isolated from the chapters has a surprisingly large number of living protein units, and there are no analogues to this substance in the world!”

In the meantime, to maintain and interest readers in this reader’s work, I will try to find out the truth about “MYRRHESTING CHAPTERS”!

And if at the St. Petersburg Institute of Biology, having examined samples of the Kyiv “MIRO”, they said that they were “analogues” there is no such substance in the world“Then in Ukraine in December 1988 they also carried out an analysis of the “PEACE” from the RECENTS of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. They were conducted by three professors of the Kyiv Medical Institute, Khmelovsky Yu.V., Bobrik I.I. and Kontsevich I.A.

And here is their conclusion:

“We carried out chemical analysis samples taken from bowls with myrrh-streaming heads No. 20, No. 9 and No. 4. The samples were taken in the presence of the manager. Department of the history of caves of the Kyiv-Pechersk State Historical and Cultural Reserve V.M. Kolpakova.

Chemical analysis of the samples was carried out in the laboratory of the Department of Biochemistry of the KMI, headed by Professor Yu.V. Khmelovsky.

The results of the analysis showed: all samples contain highly purified oils that do not contain impurities of higher fatty acids, which is confirmed by the absence of esterification and methylation reactions.

The samples dissolved well in chloroforum and acetone, and were practically insoluble in water and methanol!

The low electrical conductivity of the samples indicated the absence of an ionized medium (water and ionized particles).

Inorganic phosphates and ammonium ions were not detected in the samples, which indicates the absence of decomposition processes of organic particles (substances) that contain nitrogen and phosphates.

Protein content (Lowry) was studied from aqueous extracts of the samples.

The study found that sample #20 had 20 mg of protein per 100 mg, sample #9 had 15 mg, and sample #4 had 73 mg.

This indicator is ONLY INTERNAL TO A LIVING ORGANISM.

As for the chemical nature of the protein identified in the samples, this requires in-depth scientific research.”

Although, as I already indicated above, the powers that be in Ukraine, starting in 1930, began to take measures to attract Ukrainian scientists to study the “miracles” of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. And in this, for 3-5 years of work before the Second World War and for approximately the same period of time after the war, starting from 1985-1988, very interesting but little-known scientific work was done.

https://elitsy.ru/communities/105696/706963/?utm_medium=105717&utm_campaign=Repost&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Felitsy.ru%2Fcommunities%2F105696%2F706963%2F
Feast of the Assumption Holy Mother of God is the most solemn in the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, since main temple The monastery was consecrated precisely in honor of this twelfth holiday.

The night before in the Assumption Cathedral, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy headed the Kyiv and all Ukraine all-night vigil. Before the start of the service, Small Vespers was performed with the reading of the Akathist to the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the Refectory Church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk, a fraternal all-night vigil was held with the rite of burial and Akathist, which was led by the dean of the monastery, Archimandrite Anthony.

On the very day of the feast, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry was greeted at the Holy Gates by the Viceroy of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary (rector of KDAiS), archbishops: Irenaeus of Nizhyn and Priluki, Ilarius of Makarov; bishops of Lvov and Galicia Filaret, Boyarsky Theodosius, Dionysius (Konstantinov), Irpensky Kliment, Borodyansky Barsanuphius, Fastovsky Damian, brethren and numerous guests of the monastery in holy orders.

At the small entrance during Divine Liturgy, which took place on the square in front of the Assumption Cathedral, the Primate awarded high liturgical awards to the brethren of the Lavra. The right to wear the second cross was awarded to the monastery's housekeeper, Archimandrite Zinon, and the guardian of the Far Caves, Archimandrite Damian. Hieromonk Arefa, the cellarer of the monastery, was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Hieromonk Macarius was awarded a cross with decorations, and hierodeacons Pior, Moses, Laurus and Mark were awarded a double orarion.

Before the reading of the festive Gospel, the rite of glorification of the saints who labored within the walls of the Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was performed: Metropolitan Ioannikis of Kyiv and Galicia (Rudneva; +1900) and the monk of the Lavra, schema-monk Vassian the Blind (Balashevich; +1827).

After Metropolitan Anthony announced the decision of the Synod on canonization and Metropolitan Paul read the lives of the saints of God, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine blessed numerous people praying with icons of the newly glorified saints while singing specially composed liturgical hymns in their honor.

In his archpastoral speech on the occasion of the great holiday, the Primate of the UOC spoke about the life and veneration of the Most Holy Theotokos, who covered herself with extraordinary humility and at the same time “contained the Incontainable God, the Vessel in which the Bread of Eternal Life was kept.”

His Beatitude Vladyka Onuphry drew attention to the fact that the death of the Mother of God is called the Dormition, because She passed into eternity as painlessly as we endure the change of day through a short sleep: “She fell asleep in order to wake up in the Kingdom of God.” She cares for those who worship Her holy name, those who are “on earth in sorrow, sickness and hardship.” So today She extends a helping hand,” His Beatitude assured, “and we turn our prayer to the Queen of Heaven and earth and ask that She intercede from God, so that our life will be blessed by God, full of good deeds, prayers and love, so that She will death also made a sleep that would revive us from earthly existence into eternal life, which the saints enjoy in Heaven.”

At the end of the service, the procession with the icon of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the newly glorified saints to the Near Caves.

Editorial staff of the website www.lavra.ua

In the very center of Kyiv there is a large monastery - the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. On the slope of the Dnieper there are beautiful temples, majestic buildings, beautiful gardens and paths paved with ancient stone. But the very heart of the monastery lies... underground. After all, it is not for nothing that it is called Pechersk, that is, in modern language, cave. Below, under the high Dnieper hills, hides a labyrinth of narrow (not even two people can miss) corridors. Anyone can come here. True, it is worth taking a candle with you, because it is very dark down there, and in some places absolute darkness reigns.

Here, in the caves, the most important treasure of the Lavra is still kept. Only these are not gold coins, no gems and not expensive church utensils. These are holy people. Along the walls throughout the entire underground labyrinth lie the relics of Kyiv saints - from the 9th to the 20th centuries. During their lifetime, almost all of them were associated with the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

But the very first of them became famous even before the Baptism of Rus'...

Holy Vikings

In the very center of ancient Kyiv, a crowd is noisy. Warriors, close associates of the prince, ordinary townspeople and, of course, priests - servants of the ancient Russian gods Perun and Veles. People surrounded the strong wooden house and angrily shout something to the owner standing at the door, but do not dare to approach. They know too well what he is capable of with a sword in his hands.

The owner of the house, Tur, himself comes from the Vikings, or, as they were called then, the Varangians - harsh warriors from the cold shores of the Baltic Sea. Accustomed to fighting since childhood, they did not value combat own life, terrifying enemies with its desperation. And now, no matter how angry the besiegers were, no one dared to approach the entrance to the house.

And the reason for their rage is that the prince’s warrior and skilled warrior did not even go against the prince... Against the gods!

“Askold and Dir gathered many Varangians and began to own the land of the glades.” Fragment of the Radzivilov Chronicle.

Of course, in Lately More and more Christians began to appear among the residents of Kyiv; even the grandmother of the current Prince Vladimir, Princess Olga, was a Christian. And the prince’s brother Yaropolk, they say, sympathized with Christians. But now the pagan faith, which had been weakened, is gaining strength again! Prince Vladimir himself had a hand in this. On his orders, an idol of the supreme god Perun was erected in the center of the city, and the priests started talking about old traditions: it was time to truly appease the gods and sacrifice a person to them.

The chronicle has preserved to this day the story of that event: “And the elders and boyars said: “We will cast lots on the youths and maidens; on whomever it falls, we will slaughter him as a sacrifice to the gods.”

The lot fell to the son of the prince's warrior, the Varangian Tur. Everyone expected that he would not oppose such a decision. The Varangians especially reverence the pagan gods - warlike and merciless.

But when he heard that his son, John, had been given the lot, Tur just laughed:
- These are not gods, but a tree. Today it exists, but tomorrow it will rot. There is only one God. He created the heavens and the earth, the stars, the moon and the sun. He also created man and destined him to live on earth. What did these gods do? They themselves are created. I will not give my son to demons.

What a news! Is the fearless Varangian warrior really a Christian? Of course he for a long time lived in Byzantium, served there in the army of the emperor, where many Varangians converted to Christianity... But somehow I still can’t believe it. Although there is no reason to be surprised: after all, Tur adopted a new, Christian name - Theodore, and even baptized his son with the Christian name John.

The crowd goes to storm. Once, twice... But the father with a sword in his hands does not allow the attackers to approach his son. Who here said that Christianity is the faith of weaklings? Theodore decided to sacrifice himself: either to protect his son, or to die with him. And in a fair fight it was not easy for him to defeat even the crowd.

I had to use a trick... Theodore's house stood on pillars. The enemies cut them down, and the house collapsed, burying two Varangians - father and son, who became the first Christian martyrs of Rus'.

Where was the Kiev prince Vladimir at that time? Nothing is known about this. But the heroic death of his faithful warrior, who did not hand over his son to be torn to pieces by the priests, probably shocked the prince. More and more often, Vladimir began to think about choosing a different faith, about refusing bloody sacrifices. However, another ten years passed before this choice was made. Prince Vladimir himself was baptized, and then he personally cut down the idol of Perun, throwing it into the Dnieper. At the site of the death of Theodore and John, as a sign of repentance, he built the first church in Kyiv, called Tithes...

At the beginning of the twentieth century, excavations were carried out in the city center. Kyiv was destroyed many times, the city burned - from the time of Prince Vladimir, almost nothing even from stone buildings has survived. The Church of the Tithes also disappeared. But the destroyed foundation of that simple wooden house Archaeologists found it preserved on the pillars.

Maybe it's a coincidence, or maybe something more. After all, the relics of his owners, the Viking saints Theodore and John, also rest to this day in the caves of the Kyiv Lavra.

Anthony - the father of Russian monasticism

Several more decades passed. And now Kyiv is making noise on the banks of the Dnieper. Now it is the capital of Rus', one of the largest and most powerful cities in Europe. Very little time has passed since the day when Prince Vladimir cut down the idol of Perun, but how much has changed! There are no more bloody sacrifices, but the first Christian churches are being built. And here's a surprising thing: after new faith came from Byzantium and learned people, who brought writing to Rus', and then architects, icon painters... Not only church art - even simple crafts began to develop much faster.

The city has changed literally before our eyes. More and more often you can see overseas guests who have come to see the new Kyiv. But among the crowd of visiting Greeks there is a Slavic monk. By all appearances, he's local. I just got very tanned in the southern sun.

And indeed, monk Anthony was born even north of Kyiv, in the town of Lyubech. Antipas (he received this name at birth) excavated his first cave when he was still a child. Agree: the desire is strange. But let us not be hasty in our surprise. Many talented people, in childhood and otherwise, tried themselves as adults. And every time in such cases we are dealing with people who have a special fire burning in their chests. This is the fire of search. And Antipas caught fire because he traveled a lot around southern countries. And then, returning back, he stopped at a Greek monastery on Mount Athos, took monastic vows there and wanted to stay forever. But an experienced monk, his spiritual mentor, ordered Anthony to return to his homeland.

The abbot blessed Anthony with the words: “Go again to Rus', and may the blessing of the Holy Mountain be on you, for from you many will become monks.” Fragment of the Radzivilov Chronicle.

There are already a lot of monks on Mount Athos; monastic life is in full swing. But in Rus' there are still almost no monasteries. This is where Anthony had to work.

He did not stay in noisy Kyiv, but he did not stray far from the capital. Anthony, in search of a place to live, went to the suburban lands. Where would you go? Maybe to a place where at least something would remind you of your native place? In Lyubech there was Lake Berestovo. Near Kiev there grew the same birch forest above the Dnieper, and the village was also called Berestovo. On the Dnieper bank, Anthony found a cave. This cave was dug by the Varangians. Varangian merchants at that time conducted a kind of trade. However, they are not the only ones. In large fortified cities, goods were bought, and small, poorly protected ones were simply robbed in order to sell the loot in another city. They hid from bad weather in caves and hid treasures there. These treasures are sometimes found today.

Although Anthony did not invite anyone with him, people came to him on their own. When there were twelve of them, the first church was built. Then they created a monastery. True, Anthony did not want to be its abbot; he asked to choose someone else from the brothers. And later, when there were more monks, he tried to retire again. He went to a nearby hill and dug a new cave. But only there, students began to settle around him again...

Surprisingly, today among the many saints whose relics rest in the Lavra, there is no its founder and father of all Russian monasticism - Anthony. Having dreamed of solitude all his life, the monk was finally able to get it only after his death. Feeling that his time was near, Anthony gathered his brothers, said goodbye to them and asked them not to expose his relics for veneration. Then he went into his cell - and the earth crumbled behind him, completely blocking the passage.

Although everyone knows approximately where the cell was located, even in our time, persistent archaeologists have not been able to excavate it and disturb the holy founder of the Lavra.

“And the great Anthony became known to everyone and revered by everyone, and the brethren began to come to him, and he began to receive and tonsure them.”
Fragment of the Radzivilov Chronicle.

Miracles every day

The Orthodox tradition calls miracles the overcoming of the laws of existence. This happened often in Lavra’s life, and even now one miracle or another happens.

For example, during the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, when the craftsmen were finishing the interior decoration of the temple, suddenly on the high place where the bishop’s throne rests, the face of the Mother of God was miraculously depicted, a dove flew out of it and flew “to the image of Spasov” and to the images of the holy martyrs Artemios, Polyeuctus, Leontius, Akakios, Arethas, Jacob and Theodore, particles of whose relics were presented to the builders by the Mother of God in Blachernae and placed in the foundation of the temple. The white dove flew from one image to another, sitting first on the saints’ hand, sometimes on the head, and, finally flying up to the local icon of the Mother of God, disappeared behind this icon.

Many miracles are inextricably linked with the ascetics of the monastery. Thus, in the work of Hieromonk Afanasy Kalnofoisky, published in 1638 under the title “Teraturgima,” 64 miracles were told about the relics. For example: “In the summer of 1621, Prince Pavel Kurtsevich, so sick in his eyes that he not only couldn’t see anything, but because of his serious illness could barely walk with support, came to the Pechersky Monastery... The brethren of the holy monastery saw how he was suffering, took pity on him and said to him: “Mr. Kurtsevich, this holy Lavra is miraculous, and many of those who came here with faith received healing through the prayers of our venerable fathers Anthony and Theodosius. And you, too (although not of our Orthodox faith, but of the Latin faith) ask the priest to serve a service in the cave of St. Anthony in the morning. Having listened to the Holy Liturgy, from the cross of St. Mark of the Cave, which lies on the shrine with his relics, having washed your eyes with holy water with faith, healing through the prayers of the saint (and he heals many by the power of Christ), we hope you will receive.” He did everything, venerated the holy relics and left. “And immediately at the same time his illness stopped... And since then his sight returned to him and he recovered.”

There are stories that are very instructive. One of the cell attendants of a Catholic bishop in 1628, while in the caves, began to scold the holy relics, dragged them by the hair and said: “It was not these saints, but Rus' that dried the dead bodies in order to deceive those who come.” When he left the cave, he mounted his horse and rode off along with his master, the bishop. And as soon as they left the monastery, his horse fell with him and broke its front legs, so much so that it died there. The cell attendant himself was quite broken. Then a lot more evil happened to him, until soon, in the same year, he was killed.”

Outpost of Orthodoxy

The monastery had to go through special trials in the 17th century, when it became one of the few monasteries in Ukraine that did not come under the jurisdiction of the Uniates. It was a time of fierce struggle for faith, and the monks emerged victorious from this struggle.

The first time armed detachments of supporters of the union approached the walls of the monastery was in 1596. The king managed to issue a decree on the transfer of the monastery into the hands of the Uniates, and the monks could only leave their native monastery. The monks, led by Archimandrite Nikifor Tur, even had to master the basics of military affairs and, together with the Orthodox Kievans, literally repel enemy attacks. The second attempt of the Uniates to take possession of the monastery in 1598 was also unsuccessful. The monastery also managed to defend its vast estates by force.

Under Archimandrites Elisha Pletenetsky and Zechariah Kopystensky, a printing house founded in 1616 operated in the monastery. Famous writers, theologians, and artists united around her, in particular Pavel Berinda, Zacharia Kopystensky, Peter Mogila, Innocent Gisel, Alexander and Anthony Tarasevich. The lives of saints, Gospels, akathists, Psalters, primers, calendars, and works on the history of the Church were published here, luxuriously framed and decorated with engravings. In 1631, Metropolitan Peter Mohyla opened a school here, which was later connected with a fraternal school, which served as the beginning of the Kiev-Mohyla Collegium.

Women's Pechersk Convent

The average person will probably be very surprised to learn that the Pechersky Monastery once had a women’s “part.” WITH early XVII centuries, written sources mention the existence opposite the Holy Gates of the Lavra of the Ascension of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery of women, whose abbess at the end of the century became the mother of Hetman of Ukraine Ivan Mazepa, who became a monk.

In 1711, the monastery was abolished, and its nuns were added to the number of nuns of another Kyiv convent, Florovsky. There is an opinion that the closure of the Ascension Monastery was an act of mockery by the Russian Tsar Peter I over the memory of Mazepa for the latter’s defection to the Swedes in the Northern War.

What do Kyiv and Pisa have in common?

Few people know that the Great Lavra Bell Tower is tilted 62 cm in the northeast direction. The huge belfry was erected in 1744 by the architect Johann Schedel. With a height of 96 meters, it became for its time the most grandiose tower structure not only in Ukraine, but throughout of Eastern Europe. After the completion of construction, Schedel declared: “You, a majestic creation created by my energy and imagination, will be solemnly greeted by your descendants!”

The tilt of the bell tower is apparently due to the fact that it stands near the landslide slopes of the high right bank of the Dnieper. However, unlike the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Great Lavra Bell Tower does not “fall”, i.e. its inclination does not increase. Even today, in the age of skyscrapers and gigantomania, the bell tower amazes with its size and harmony of proportions.

The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra suffered various misfortunes many times. So, half a century after the death of the famous Ilia Muromets, the Tatar-Mongols invaded the Russian lands. The princes, carried away by the struggle with each other, could not resist them, and in 1240 Kyiv and Lavra were destroyed.

It seemed that the monastery had come to an end, because the temples were burned and almost all the monks were killed. But no! Gradually, life was revived here again, brothers scattered across the earth gathered again, and new people came.

There have been times of prosperity in the history of the Lavra, and times of decline. But even in difficult years, there was always a place for monastic feats, which began almost a thousand years ago with a monk named Anthony, tanned under the southern sun.

* Relics are the bodies of righteous people, which after death often remain incorruptible, that is, the same as they were during life. In total, the relics of 123 saints rest in the caves of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Great ascetics of the Lavra

Venerable Dionysius Shchepa

The history of the monastery contains evidence of one incident that occurred in 1463. On Easter, having entered the caves, as usual, the caretaker monk, together with two assistants, stopped in the passage and, paying tribute to the remains resting here, said loudly:
- Christ is risen, holy fathers and brothers!

In response to this greeting, the walls of the caves responded with dozens of voices, which loudly, like one person, exclaimed:
- Christ has truly risen!

The voice was repeated three times. There was no one in the caves at that time, so it became obvious to the caretaker and his companions, who were in a clear mind at that moment, that a miracle had happened. The monk's name was Dionysius, nicknamed Shchepa.

The saint became one of the last monks of the Pechersk monastery who completed his life path in the dungeon. After Dionysius, we practically do not know people who labored in caves. Almost nothing is known about him. According to the legends of the Lavra, he was a priest. He got his nickname because of his incredible thinness. Shchepa ended his earthly life as a recluse in one of the underground cells (in the Far Caves).

Saint Paul (Konyuskevich)

In the Far Caves lies the body of a man who, through the course of his entire life, proved that in the years of the most severe trials the Church would never follow the lead of secular rulers. This bishop suffered under Empress Catherine II and is an example of courage and uncompromisingness in moments of confrontation between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of man.

A native of Lviv land, the future shepherd began his spiritual path at the Sambir School, continued it at the Kyiv Theological Academy. After graduation, he was left to teach pyitika. At the age of 28, he took monastic vows at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra with the name Pavel. The remarkable rhetorician was elevated to the rank of archimandrite in 1744 and appointed rector of the Yuryev Monastery in Veliky Novgorod. Pavel spent 15 years as rector, doing a lot to improve the monastery.

In 1758, 53-year-old Father Paul was ordained bishop, elevated to metropolitan and sent to Tobolsk. Dissatisfied with the policies of Catherine II, which took away lands from the Church, the Bishop wrote a sharp message to the Synod. On the other hand, the metropolitan’s severity, bordering on cruelty, caused a flood of complaints against him. As a result, in 1767 he was summoned to the Synod for proceedings. There are indications that the metropolitan was sentenced to deprivation of his episcopal rank, but the empress did not approve this decree. The Bishop himself asked to retire to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Here he lived until his death, which followed a long illness on November 4, 1770. At first he was buried in a crypt under the Assumption Cathedral, and currently the relics of the saint are in the Far Caves.

Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch

This monk is known for having accepted monasticism back in childhood and spent his entire life in asceticism. He lived in the 14th century and bore the obedience of the canonarch (leader of the choir of the brethren) of the Assumption Cathedral.

The name of this saint is translated as “elderly.” It is not known whether this is the real monastic name of the ascetic, or this is what his contemporaries called him, but life notes that the saint had extraordinary wisdom and was smart and insightful beyond his years.

The ascetic died at the age of 12. The youth Gerontius was buried in the Far Caves. His memory is celebrated on April 1 and August 28 (old style).

Venerable Longinus the Goalkeeper

This monk lived at the turn of the 13th–14th centuries. He was the goalkeeper - the guard and gatekeeper of the monastery. During his life, he gained the glory of being a visionary, pointing out to everyone entering the monastery their most hidden and grave sins.

In addition, Longinus was an excellent expert on human souls and could accurately recognize in any person all his virtues and vices. The ascetic treated himself extremely strictly, listening to every movement of his heart, fighting against every passion.
The holy father lived to a ripe old age. His memory is celebrated on October 16 (old style). The relics rest in the Far Caves.

Venerable Agathon the Healer

Almost every generation of Lavra monks donated healers to the monastery - people who, either while still in the world, or already in rank, had mastered medical skills well and treated the brethren. They were highly respected, and this was natural, because in the harsh conditions of the cave monastery with its dampness, the inhabitants often got sick. Doctors treated with both herbs and prayer - the latter was even more important than various potions. Holy Father Agathon was also a healer.

He lived at the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries. Little is known about him. History has preserved information about him as a responsive doctor. Being a great faster, the saint was granted the gift of prayer, prophecy and healing of the sick by the laying on of hands. For his great humility, the elder was honored to learn from the Lord the time of his death. He died at the age of 40. His remains rest in the Far Caves.

Father Agathon was canonized in 1643.

Twelve builders of the Assumption Cathedral

In the Near Caves rest the incorruptible relics of the twelve craftsmen who built and decorated the first building of the Assumption Cathedral. According to legend, these masters came from Constantinople, following the miraculous command of the Mother of God, who told them to go to Rus' and create a grandiose temple there. At the same time, the Most Pure Virgin presented the craftsmen with the relics of the seven holy martyrs and a huge amount of gold for construction costs.

The first group of masters consisted of four people. They erected the building itself. Ten years later, the rest arrived from Byzantium. Together they completed the finishing work. The Lavra monk Alipius, a famous icon painter and master of mosaics, also worked with them. Having finished decorating the temple with icons and paintings, the Greeks remained to live in the Pechersk Lavra. Having taken monastic vows, they died in the monastery in old age. Their relics rest in the Near Caves.

Reverend Nikola Svyatosha

In the narthex of the Trinity Gate Church you can see a small door that leads to a cramped closet. According to legend, the Monk Nicholas labored here, who founded this temple and was a guard at the holy gates.

The monk was born around 1080 and at birth received the name Svyatoslav. At baptism he was named Pancratius. He was the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise and reigned in Lutsk.

During the next civil strife, the prince was deprived of the throne, but he did not take revenge on the offenders. And when his beloved wife Anna died in 1107, he took monastic vows at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

For the first three years in the monastery, Nikola chopped wood, carried water, and then became the monastery gatekeeper. Nikola spent a lot of time reading books, which he purchased with money received from needlework and gardening. As a result, after his death, an extensive library remained in the monastery. On the instructions and with the money of Nikola, translations from Greek originals were also made.

His remains rest in the Near Caves of the Lavra.

Venerable John the Long-Suffering

The life of this saint is an example of the extent of suffering a person can go to in order to get rid of the passion that torments him. St. John is revered as a helper in the fight against fornication.

Carnal thoughts began to visit John from a young age, but, wanting to remain a virgin, the guy actively fought against them. Young man The demon of fornication prevailed so strongly that neither hunger, nor thirst, nor heavy chains helped. Only 30 years later, the saint finally defeated carnal passion, and the price of victory was high. Sometimes the monk wanted to leave the seclusion, then he decided on an even greater feat - he dug a hole and, with the onset of Lent, climbed into it and covered himself with earth up to his shoulders. On the night of Easter, the demon turned into a dragon and captured the head of the monk in its mouth. Then Saint John cried out from the depths of his heart to God. Suddenly lightning flashed and the snake disappeared. The Divine Light shone on the ascetic, and a Voice was heard: “John! Here's some help for you. From now on, be careful that passion does not return again.” The saint bowed and said: “Lord! Why did you leave me to suffer for so long?” Christ replied: “I have given you tests of your strength, so that you will be burnt like gold.”

The monk died around 1160. His relics rest in the Near Caves.

Reverend Mark Grave Digger

In any monastery, especially such a large one as the Pechersk Monastery, in the old days there was a special obedience - to dig holes for burying the bodies of dead monks. At the turn of the 11th–12th centuries, this work was carried out by the Rev. Mark Peschernik. His work was distinguished by the fact that burials were made underground, in conditions of dampness and stale air.

He carried the dead on his shoulders, never asked for help, he refused rewards for his work, and if someone managed to give him something in gratitude for digging a grave, then Mark gave this thing to the poor.

He wore a heavy iron belt throughout his monastic life. He drank little, ate almost nothing and did not sleep. For his great humility, Mark received from the Lord the power to perform such miracles that even the dead obeyed his words. This was confirmed by many signs. The relics of Father Mark rest in the Near Caves.

Venerable Prokhor Lebednik

This ascetic received his nickname due to the fact that he did not eat ordinary bread, but collected quinoa, ground it into flour with his own hands and made cakes for himself. IN summer time he prepared such bread for himself for the whole year. He ate nothing but prosphora and drank nothing but water.

During the life of the saint (late 11th century), famine began in Rus' due to constant wars. Prokhor began making even more quinoa bread and distributing it to the poor. People, in order to feed themselves during hunger, also began to make similar flat cakes, but they could not eat because of the bitterness. Then everyone began to turn to the saint, and he did not refuse anyone. His baked goods tasted sweet, as if they were mixed with honey. This bread was given only with the blessing of the saint, and if anyone took it secretly, it became black and bitter. Later, as a result of civil strife between Prince Svyatopolk and the Volyn prince David Igorevich, there was no Carpathian salt in Kyiv. Blessed Prokhor, seeing this, collected ashes from all the cells and, after praying, turned the ashes into pure salt. The more the saint distributed salt, the more it became, so that there was enough salt not only for the monastery, but also for other people.

The relics of the saint rest in the Near Caves.

Saint Ephraim of Pereyaslavl

Greek by birth, before his tonsure as a monk, Ephraim was the treasurer and was in charge of the household at the court of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Izyaslav Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise.

Weighed down by his noisy and hectic life, he turned to St. Anthony for a blessing for monasticism. The elder gave his blessing, and Ephraim was tonsured by Abbot Nikon. The angry prince demanded that his servant return home, threatening him with imprisonment and the destruction of the monastery caves. The Monk Anthony and his brethren left the monastery and decided to move to another place. However, Izyaslav Yaroslavich heeded the persuasion Grand Duchess and removed the disgrace from the monastery.

To remove the shadow from the monastery, Ephraim went to Constantinople and settled there in one of the monasteries. There he copied the Studio Charter and sent it to Kyiv. Having received the charter, the Monk Theodosius introduced it in his monastery.

When an episcopal see was established in Pereyaslav, they decided to make Ephraim the bishop. So the monk became a bishop. He decorated the city with churches and civil buildings, and built stone walls, established free hospitals for the poor and wanderers.

His relics rest in the Near Caves.

Rev. Elijah Muromets

Who doesn’t know the legendary hero, who won many victories over the bandits roaming the Russian land! Ilya Muromets is known to everyone, but not many will answer the question of where the glorious warrior is buried. His remains, surprisingly, must be looked for in the Near Caves.

Some researchers consider the prototype of the epic character to be a historical character, a strongman nicknamed “Chobitko”. We do not know his pagan name. According to legend, in his youth, before receiving Baptism, future monk was seriously ill. After miraculous healing the young man was baptized with the name Elijah.

During one of the battles, the hero received numerous wounds. Realizing that he would not last long and would not recover from his wounds, Elijah took monastic vows and soon departed to the Lord around 1188.

In 1988, the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR carried out an examination of the relics, as a result of which it was established that it was a man who died at the age of 40–55 and suffered paralysis of the limbs in his youth.

Venerable Moses Ugrin

This saint was from Hungary, hence his nickname. In his youth, together with his brother George, he served with Prince Boris, the son of Vladimir the Great. When the prince was treacherously killed in 1015 on the Alta River, Moses survived and hid with Predislava, Boris's sister. During the capture of Kyiv in 1018 by the Polish prince Boleslav, he was taken prisoner, taken to Poland and there sold into slavery.

His owner was a passionate woman. Having become a widow at an early age, she did not come to terms with her situation, but, on the contrary, began to look for male affection “on the side.” The object of her attraction was Moses. But he did not love her, and the young man did not want to live with a woman to satisfy her desires. In addition, his soul was inclined to monasticism, and he decided to devote himself to God at all costs and preserve his virginity.

Ultimately, he secretly took monastic vows from a passing Athonite hieromonk. Having learned about this, the woman turned to the king. The king called them to him and tried to persuade Moses to have a relationship with her. Hearing the refusal, the ruler said to the widow: “Do with your slave as you wish; so that others do not dare to disobey their masters.” She once again tried to seduce Moses and, after refusing, ordered him to be castrated. This was done with particular cruelty - for the rest of his life the saint walked with a stick, since below the waist there was an ugly, constantly painful wound that did not heal.

Moses managed to escape from his mistress. He returned to Kyiv and settled in the Pechersk monastery. In the monastery he became famous as having power over carnal passions. The monk lived in the monastery for about ten years, died in 1043 and was buried in the Near Caves.

Venerable Ignatius Archimandrite

This reverend father was the archimandrite of the monastery and lived in the 15th century. For his holy life he received gifts of miracles from God, and healed the sick with his prayer. The patient recovered after eating the prosphora blessed by the saint. The relics of Ignatius are located in the Far Caves of the Lavra. Local veneration of the elder began at the end of the 17th century under Archimandrite Varlaam (Yasinsky).

Archimandrite Anthony, who has been serving in the Lavra for 30 years - about joy every day, grace

Revelations of a monk of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra: “I had a vision that the Lavra would open” Yaroslava Korneeva //smm.ollcdn.net/img/article/7626/35_main.1477059980.jpg //smm.ollcdn.net/img/article/7626/35_tn.1477059980.jpg 2016-10-22T05:48:00+03:00 Sunday School Archimandrite Anthony, who has been serving in the Lavra for 30 years - about joy every day, grace

"Today" continues to publish the revelations of the monks of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and this time we were able to talk with a unique person, an old-timer of the Lavra who predicted its opening and has been serving here for almost 30 years. Archimandrite Anthony, a singer of the fraternal Lavra choir, told us how the Lavra was opened and how the Lord can save a person at any moment.

— Father Anthony, in your opinion, at what time of year is the Lavra most beautiful?

— My Lavra is always beautiful. IN spiritual sense Even every day that brings us closer to salvation is beautiful. And if you look with worldly eyes, then I think that in the summer the Lavra is still the most beautiful - everything is blooming, rejoicing, having fun and thanking God. In the spring it blooms like youth itself, and in the fall it fades away. But I try to be happy at any time of the year. I say to the brethren: “For everything, glory to God. Every day, every season is always beautiful, the domes glitter with gold, services are held. People come and rejoice! Isn’t this a reason for joy?”

— Tell us how you ended up in the Lavra?

— I worked in, served in the army, with the rank of sergeant, got an apartment, got on my feet. But the soul asked to go to the temple. That's why I ended up in Vladimir Cathedral, began to serve, was a deacon there for eight years, and then ended up in the Lavra. One of my ancestors was a sexton in the family and served in the church for 40 years. Mom and Dad instilled such love in us. Although dad was a communist, the icons were sacredly preserved in our house. Our parents taught us everything: how to pray, how to live according to the laws of God. Aunt Irina, my father’s sister, instilled in me the love of God, although she herself was illiterate.

— How many years have you been a monk?

— Since 1988. Here I am the first monk. When I came to the Lavra in 1988, there was a museum here. Who wasn’t there! For example, in the building where the metropolis is now, there was kindergarten, junior group. That's why we monks lived where we could. It happened in the warm season even on the street, on benches or in corridors. There were few of us then, only five. In general, at first we went to serve here, and at night we went to our apartments, since there was nowhere to spend the night. Then they gave us the 52nd building, 2nd floor. Then we slowly began to settle down. We lived on one side, and the new novices on the other.

— Why did you decide to go to the Lavra? Did this understanding come through prayer? Dream?

“I had a vision that the Lavra would open when the chestnut trees bloomed. I went to the Pokrovsky Monastery and told the mothers that the Lavra would be opened before the millennium of the Baptism of Rus'. Moreover, he even indicated that not from the central entrance (Upper Lavra. - Author), but from those gates that lead to the lower Lavra. He was the first to tell the mothers of the Intercession Monastery about this: “When the chestnuts bloom, then the Lavra will be opened,” they were amazed. But that's what happened. On June 16th there was the first service, and on the 24th or 25th we began to serve daily services to the Monk of Pechersk in the Far Caves. I was still serving as a deacon then. I remember I attached a lamp near one of the icons, lit it in the evening, and in the morning I came to the service - the lamp was burning. There was such grace then! The laity donated a lot. I still remember that at that time we sold 369 rubles worth of candles alone - a very large amount for those times. The parishioners helped us clean up the area, old trees and bushes in order. I remember the second spiritual upsurge in the early 90s, when we were given the Temple of the Exaltation of the Life-Giving Cross. Just before the Feast of the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was such a holiday for us! It was as if we were all flying on wings! Now young people come and don’t know about the poverty that we experienced, but we remember what poverty is, poverty, how they brought things with lice and bedbugs. The coins were thrown so worn that neither the date nor the inscription was visible. They say about this: “God, it’s not good for me.” But there was more good stuff, of course!

— They say that the venerable fathers of Pechersk themselves help the Lavra monks?

“I always read the akathist to the Pechersk fathers, and they always help: the Lord, the Mother of God, and all the saints. I teach all novices to read akathists, to know them by heart, especially the akathist of St. Anthony... In difficult moments, everyone rushes to God. When there is health, people think that there is no God. It’s another matter when a person is immobilized or forgotten by others - he lies, no one needs him. That’s when they put up icons and remember prayers; if there is something to remember, they cling to it as if it were their last hope. But you must honor God from a young age, then the Lord will be your helper and patron. Although the Lord always waits for us sinners. And at any moment he can show His mercy. I remember before my trip to Jerusalem, Bishop blessed me to go to a military hospital, to see a man who had been in an accident. The situation turned out to be very stupid. He and his brother, military men with positions and cars, “played” races on the Zhitomir highway. And they ended up in a ditch. This Oleg’s brother died on the spot, and Oleg’s spine was crushed. Vladyka said that his legs gave out, and when I came to the hospital, he was already in a coma. His father, the general, was just sitting next to him. He looked at me and asked: “Whose acquaintance are you? The Metropolitan?” I answer: “I am an acquaintance of the Lord God.” He looked at me for a long time, but allowed me to carry out the unction. He gave the sick man unction and was about to leave when suddenly he opened his eyes! it happened! It turned out that at the same time the bishop was also praying for him in Jerusalem.

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