Why is the Kiev Pechersk Lavra important to us? 5 main facts about the ancient monasterytranslated

On September 10, the Church celebrates the Council of the Reverend Fathers of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, one of the main shrines of historical Rus'. What is its significance? We tell you in the slides of the Foma magazine.

Alexander MOISEENKOV

1. The monastery, which became a model of Russian cenobitic monasticism

After the Baptism of Rus', the first monasteries were built, as a rule, on the initiative of rulers or representatives of the nobility. Members of noble families retired there to retire, and princely tombs were often built there. The history of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery began “from below”, with the prayer of St. Anthony, one of the founders of Russian monasticism, and the active work of his disciple Theodosius, who was later elected abbot of the monastery. Under Theodosius, the Studian dormitory charter was adopted here, which became a model for many Russian monasteries. Divine services were regularly held in the monastery, the monks prayed, worked and ate together.

2. The first pilgrimage center

Saints Anthony and Theodosius laid the foundation for the tradition of cave asceticism in Rus'. At first, the monks of the Lavra lived...