The Church commemorates Venerable Fathers of Kyiv Lavra (Near Caves)

Pechersk ascetics. Painting of the Trinity Gate, the main entrance of the Lavra. Photo: open sources

On October 11 (September 28 according to the Julian calendar), the Church commemorates the Venerable Fathers of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra who rest in the Near (Anthony’s) Caves.

The history of the Near Caves dates back to around 1051, when Venerable Anthony of the Caves, returning from Mount Athos, settled in a cave on the Dnipro’s bank. Soon disciples began to gather around him, seeking the monastic life. The first among them was Venerable Theodosius of the Caves. Thus arose the first monastic community in Rus’, which became the cradle of Orthodox monasticism on these lands.

On this day, Church tradition honors the synaxis of 73 venerable fathers, among them the founders of the Lavra – Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves, Saint Nestor the Chronicler, Venerable Ilya of Murom, and many other ascetics of piety.

Background
The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is considered one of the most ancient Orthodox monasteries in Rus’. Today, however, both the Near and Far Caves of the Lavra have been seized from the Church by the state. As in Soviet times, the faithful currently have no access to the holy relics.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the monks of Mount Athos condemned the desecration of relics in the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

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