300 historic shots of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra displayed in Moscow

The exhibition "The Way of the Cross of Lavra" in the Temple of Christ the Savior in Moscow

300 photographs were selected for the photo exhibition, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the revival of monastic life in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, reflecting the life of the monastery from the pre-revolutionary period to the present day. This was announced by the chief editor of the magazine “Foma in Ukraine” protodeacon Alexander Karpenko on his Facebook page.

According to Father Alexander, the exhibits allow the viewer "to go throughout the twentieth century together with the inhabitants of the Lavra, to get familiar with the milestones of modern history and the main shrines of the Lavra".

“We tried to convey all the benchmarks of the Lavra's history in the 20th century,” the protodeacon explained the mission of the exhibition. “The impartial lens of the photographer caught them in portraits and panoramas, historical views and sketches: joyful and sad, tragic and sublime. All these are pages of our shared history. Stories not only of the Lavra, but also of the whole country and its people, with whom the monastery has passed its Way of the Cross – throughout the XX century – from death to resurrection.”

He stressed that over the 30 years that have passed since the revival of monastic life in the monastery, Lavra has acquired an even more magnificent view.

“A large-scale reconstruction of temples and buildings was commenced in the monastery, most of which were in ruins at the time of the transfer. Much had to be built almost anew. The very traditions of monastic life, divine services and singing in the Lavra’s spirit were revived,” noted Fr. Alexander.

On October 30, accompanied by the Abbot of the Holy Assumption Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus visited the exhibition, after which he spoke with Orthodox journalists and for the first time told the details of his meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, which took place in Istanbul.

As the UOJ reported, earlier the brethren of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra prepared a film with unique views of the monastery.

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