It is one of the cultural and religious symbols of Ukraine, one of the oldest monastic complexes in the country and in the Orthodox world, historically and for a long time the seat of the Metropolitan of Kyiv, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church linked to the Patriarchate of Moscow. From the hills in the Pechersk district, an area of Kyiv that is home to numerous museums, it overlooks the Dnipro river impressively, with the unmistakable golden domes of its churches and bell towers. And on the night between 14 and 15 June it was not spared from Russian attacks. Kyiv’s Pechersk Lavra monastic complex, also known as the Cave Monastery, was seriously damaged by a new heavy wave of Russian missiles and drones over the capital. In particular, the Dormition Cathedral, one of the main architectural monuments of the Lavra, was hit.
The attack on this place of worship aroused pain, dismay and indignation. The Monastery of the Caves it was founded in 1051 by the monks Anthony and Theodosius, built with a complex system of underground caves and catacombs which extends for approximately 600 metres. Together with the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1990. Since September 2023, due to the war, it has been included in the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger.
In a note released today, UNESCO condemns the attack that hit the monastic complex, as well as “attacks against cultural sites, educational institutions, students, education staff and media professionals, all of whom are protected by international law”.
Destination for visitors and pilgrims, after the Russian invasion and the start of full-scale war the Lavra was at the center of a political and religious dispute. Metropolitan Onofrius openly condemned Russian military aggression against Ukraine and decreed the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the Moscow Patriarchate. But the authorities in Kyiv have raised suspicions about the links between the monks of the Lavra and the Russian Federation. AND in November 2022 the security services conducted a blitz in the monastery to verify any subversive, espionage and pro-Russian propaganda activities. The rift between the state authorities and the Church linked to the Patriarchate of Moscow has never healed: Kyiv has assigned the use of the monastery to the Orthodox Church of the Patriarchate of Kyiv (autocephalous), led by Metropolitan Epiphanius.
In August 2024 the Government decided to ban the Orthodox Church linked to the Moscow Patriarchate (led by Patriarch Kirill). After the attack on the Lavra, Metropolitan Epiphanius commented: «We ask for prayers for the salvation of the temple from destruction. Another Russian crime against humanity, against history, against Christianity.”
For its part, Moscow denies responsibility for the attack on the cathedral: according to the Russian Ministry of Defense it was a US-made Patriot missile that hit the monastery.
