Kiev-Pechersk Monastery (Lavra). History of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Address: Ukraine, Kyiv
Date of foundation: 1051
Main attractions: Assumption Cathedral, Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow", Church of All Saints, Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Warm Church in honor of all the Venerable Fathers of the Pechersk, Temple in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring", Refectory Church, Nearby Caves , Distant Caves
Coordinates: 50°26"06.3"N 30°33"24.0"E

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is the center of Christianity and a shrine for the believing people. This place has a long history and is famous for its temples and beautiful places.

Today, the ensemble of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra consists of more than a hundred stone structures, about twenty churches and more than 40 architectural monuments.

View of the upper Lavra

History of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra

On the right bank of the Dnieper, the unsurpassed Kiev-Pechersk Lavra flaunts from afar, in the Pechersky district of the city of Kyiv, which is the oldest district of the capital. The name of the area is due to the fact that the first monks once lived here in caves (Ukrainian - “pechera”). The monastery was founded, according to historical data, in the 11th century. But the Pechersk Monastery received the name “Lavra” in the 12th century. The monastery, around the second half of the 11th century, became the largest architectural center in Kievan Rus. Tiling and mosaic workshops were located here. 100 years later, namely at the end of the 12th century, defensive ramparts and fortification ramparts with towers and loopholes were erected around the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

General view of the Lavra

During the same period, the Trinity Gate Church was built on the territory of the monastery, which is one of 6 monuments of princely times that has survived to this day. The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra survived the Tatar-Mongol invasions, the years of the Second World War, as well as the most difficult periods of Lithuanian and Polish rule. However, despite the destruction and damage, the monastery survived and today is a historical and cultural reserve with an area of ​​28 hectares, where the relics of more than 400 saints are kept. Among the saints there are many famous architects, doctors, writers, and artists of Kievan Rus. For example, the relics of Nestor the chronicler - historiographer, author of "The Tale of Past Years" - are kept here. This is the only place in the world where so many shrines are kept.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Churches and temples of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra

The National Reserve of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra is of great historical importance, where there are about twenty churches of different sizes and ages, differing in interiors and styles. The most famous are the Trinity Church, the Assumption Cathedral, which adorns Cathedral Square, and the Refectory Church. Also of interest is the main Lavra Bell Tower, from where the whole of Kyiv is visible at a glance. The Trinity Gate Church is located above the entrance to the Holy Lavra. There is a belief that in order to be cleansed from sins, you need to go through the gates of the church twice. The church was built at the beginning of the twelfth century. Despite the fact that the church is small, there are 120 biblical compositions on its walls.

Refectory Church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius

The architecture of the church is represented by multi-profile cornices, pilasters, and ceramic rosettes. And, of course, the beautiful blue dome of the church with golden stars is amazing. On the main cathedral square of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra stands the Assumption Cathedral, the construction of which dates back to the 11th century. Of course, at that time he looked completely different from what he looks like today. Then it was a rectangular one-story building with one dome. The Moscow architect Vasiliev, after a fire in the 18th century, united all the buildings of the cathedral under one roof. The temple becomes a square, two-story building with seven gilded domes. The Assumption Cathedral contains up to three hundred burials of church and famous historical figures.

Trinity Gate Church

The Assumption Cathedral was the center of the entire great architectural composition of the Lavra, however, in early November 1941, when German generals and Slovak President Josef Tiso visited the Lavra, the temple was blown up and the cathedral was destroyed. In November 1998, based on available archival data, its reconstruction began, with funds raised by residents of the city of Kyiv, which was completed in 2000. Thus, today the Assumption Cathedral repeats an exact copy of the cathedral of the 11th century.

This cathedral is famous for its altar, with an absolutely wonderful iconostasis, 25 meters long and 22.5 meters high. There are several world-famous temple icons here, namely the icons of the Mother of God, Jesus Christ, and the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There are about 69 icons in total.

Great Lavra Bell Tower

There are also other very interesting buildings on Cathedral Square. Here is the residence of the metropolitans who lived here until 1918 and the Church of the Annunciation. Now the residence building houses a museum dedicated to Ukrainian decorative and applied arts.

Next to the metropolitans' chambers there is a small building consisting of 2 floors. Previously, there was a refectory on this site, built at the end of the 19th century in the ecliptic style. Not far from the refectory, the Refectory Church was built, which today is not only a museum, but also a functioning church. This church is considered one of the latest buildings and is a large octagon-shaped room. The temple contains a very beautiful marble iconostasis and an icon of Anthony Theodosius of Pechersk.

All Saints Church

Another unique place of the national reserve is the main Lavra Bell Tower, the construction of which lasted from 1731 to 1745. The height of the bell tower is about 96 meters, the depth of the granite foundation is approximately eight meters, the thickness of the walls is seven meters, and the diameter is about 29 meters. The bell tower consists of four tiers, decorated in their own way. The huge dome of the bell tower has an area of ​​more than five hundred square meters, and the construction is completed by a cross, whose height is four and a half meters. In December 1903, a chiming clock was installed on the fourth tier of the bell tower, weighing 4.5 tons. The second tier housed the public library. The bell tower at one time was the tallest building in the city of Kyiv. From here you can really enjoy the view of part of the city, located on the left bank and, of course, the entire Lavra.

Church of the Savior on Berestov

Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra

The man-made caves: Near and Far are considered a unique phenomenon of the reserve. This is the main attraction where the relics of the Lavra saints rest. In front of the entrance to the caves there is the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, which has retained its original appearance to this day. Six small underground churches have been preserved in the caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The total length of the caves and underground labyrinths is more than 500 m, the height is two meters, the width is more than one meter, and the depth at which they are located is from five to twenty meters. In the eighteenth century, the caves were fortified against collapses and were painted. There are iconostases made of gilded copper, and holy relics are kept in the tombs.

The Lavra is one of the largest and most majestic Orthodox shrines in Ukraine. Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the status of a lavra. Founded in 1051 under Prince Yaroslav by monk Anthony as a cave monastery.

It is considered one of the first monasteries in Rus', which laid the foundation for monasticism. One of Anthony's first students, Theodosius, made a great contribution to the construction of the monastery, under whose abbot many above-ground buildings and the main cathedral were erected. For centuries the monastery was a center of missionary work and education..

1 - Trinity Gate Church. Entrance to the territory of the Lavra.
2 - Great Lavra Bell Tower.
3 - Assumption Cathedral.
4 - Church of All Saints.
5 - Church of the Savior on Berestovo.
6 - Refectory with church.
7 - Church of the Exaltation of the Cross. Entrance to the Near Caves.
8 - Annozachatievskaya Church. Entrance to the Far Caves.
9 - Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.
A - Museum of Microminiatures.
B - National Museum of Ukrainian Folk Decorative Art.
C - Museum of Books and Printing of Ukraine.
D - State Museum of Theatrical, Musical and Film Arts of Ukraine.
E - Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine.
S - Souvenir shops.
V - Exhibition halls.
The red dotted line outlines the territory of the active monastery until 2000.

Part I. History

In 1051, during the principality of Yaroslav the Wise and the metropolitan ministry of St. Hilarion, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra began to exist. The Monk Anthony, abbot of the Esphigmen monastery of Theoktista on distant Mount Athos, created the monastery first as a cave monastery. This contribution did not go unnoticed. People began to come to him for blessings and spiritual advice. Prince Izyaslav, the son of Yaroslav and his Kiev nobility often visited the cave monastery.

At their expense, an above-ground monastery and cells were built when the caves became crowded for the brethren, whose number was rapidly increasing. In 1062, the Monk Anthony installed the Monk Varlaam as the first abbot, and he himself went to a remote cave, where he remained for 40 years.

After the transfer of the Monk Varlaam as abbot to the St. Dmitrievsky Monastery founded by Prince Izyaslav, the Monk Anthony blesses the Monk Theodosius to become hegumen, as the humblest and most obedient of the brethren. When there were 100 monks in the monastery, Theodosius sent one of the monks to Constantinople to the eunuch Erethem to rewrite the Studite Rule and bring it to Kyiv.

On the basis of the Studite and monastic charter, the Pechersk Charter was concluded, which subsequently all monasteries of Kievan Rus began to follow..

Important events were the foundation and construction of the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God. The church was built over 15 years by Greek architects and icon painters. And it was consecrated in 1089 by Metropolitan John. Alypius, who is considered the founder of icon art that is distinctive from Greek, participated in the paintings of the temple. In 1091, the relics of St. Theodosius were installed in the temple. The Monk Anthony was buried in the Near Caves according to his will.

Many of the Pechersk monks became missionaries and went to preach Christianity. Chronicle writing was associated with the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. The first famous chronicler was the Monk Nikon, abbot of the Pechersk Monastery. The author of the Pechersk Chronicle is considered to be the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler, who in 1113 completed his “Tale of Bygone Years.”

In the 13th century In the monastery, a unique work “Kievo-Pechersk Peterik” was created, the basis of which was the monk Polycarp, as well as the message of Simon, Bishop of Vladimir-Suzdal. The Pechersk monastery, which played a significant role in the unification of the East Slavic lands, was a spiritual, social, cultural and educational center, and was famous not only in Rus', but also in Poland, Armenia, Byzantium, Bulgaria and other countries.

From the beginning of the 40s of the 13th century. and by the beginning of the XIV century. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra witnessed the Tatar-Mongol invasion and, together with the people, suffered disasters. The Golden Horde khans, who realized the importance of Kyiv for the Eastern Slavs, did their best to prevent the revival of the city. The monastery, like the whole of Kyiv, suffered greatly from Tatar raids in 1399 and 1416.

Few sources reporting on the life of the Lavra during this period have survived. Due to the fact that Genghis Khan and his successors, due to the peculiarities of their beliefs (they revered the deities of various religions), showed religious tolerance, there is reason to believe that life and worship in the monastery did not stop. It is known that in 1251, 1274 and 1277. Metropolitan Kirill came to Kyiv from Greece. He performed the consecrations of bishops for Vladimir-on-Klyazma and Novgorod in the St. Sophia Cathedral.

In 1284, Metropolitan Maxim convened a Council of Bishops and later consecrated bishops himself.
In the middle of the 14th century. Lithuanian expansion into Ukraine begins. Although the Lithuanian prince Olgerd, to whom the Kiev lands were subordinate, initially professed a pagan faith, and after the adoption of the Union of Krevo (1385) an intensive inculcation of Catholicism began between Lithuania and Poland, the Pechersk monastery lived a full-blooded life during this period. This is evidenced by the fact that the young man Arseny, originally from Tver, who took monastic vows in the second half of the 14th century, “... rejoiced in spirit when he found monks in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery who shone with virtue like stars in the firmament of heaven, and tried to imitate to them, for many years he underwent various degrees of obedience...”

The Pechersk Monastery had a certain influence on the development of the Church in the neighboring Russian lands in difficult times for them. So, in the second half of the 14th century. Stefan, the Miracle Worker of Mokhrin, was tonsured a monk in the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery and founded the Mokhrinsky monastery near Moscow, and the Avnesian monastery in the Vologda land. Bishop Arseny of Tver founded the Zheltovodsk Assumption Monastery in his diocese. At the end of the 15th century. Pechersk tonsure Kuzma Yakhromsky founded a monastery on the river. Yakhroma in Vladimir district (near Moscow).

During this period, the Pechersky Monastery enjoyed such fame that Russian princes often came to the Lavra and stayed to live there forever, and some of them became famous as ascetics. In particular, here in 1439 the famous commander Prince Fyodor Ostrozhsky became a monk with the name Theodosius, and donated his wealth to the monastery.

At the end of the 16th century, overcoming various difficulties associated with the Catholicization of Ukrainian lands, as well as interference in the internal life of the Lavra by the king and magnates, the monastery was actively revived: rebuilding churches and buying new lands. And although the monastery no longer had the former glory that it had in the first centuries of its existence, it remains one of the most outstanding spiritual, educational and cultural centers of Ukraine. A new wave of revival of the Pechersk Monastery, the growth of its spiritual authority began during the period of struggle against the union, when the monastery was headed, each in its time, by such outstanding figures as Archimandrites Nikifor Tours, Elisha Pletenetsky, Zakhary Kopystensky, St. Metropolitan Peter Mogila, Innocent Gisel and other. Thus, the beginning of book printing in Kyiv is associated with the name of Elisha Pletenetsky. The first book published in the printing house of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra that has survived to this day is “Book of Hours (1616-1617). In 1680-1690 in the Lavra, the monk of the Baturinsky Krupitsky Monastery, the future Saint Demetrius of Rostov, compiled the “Lives of the Saints”.

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv is not just a landmark visited by guests of the capital, tourists, and Kiev residents. This is a “must visit” place, where every person must go once in their life.

The special atmosphere of the Lavra, the history of its shrines, the secrets of the caves make you think about life, think about the most important and secret things. A walk through the monastery, an overview of the surroundings of Kyiv and the Dnieper from the Lavra hills will not leave anyone indifferent to the architecture and picturesqueness of this place.

History of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra

The status of “lavra” is assigned to large monasteries, which is the Kiev-Pechersk shrine. It began its existence in the mid-11th century, when the name Pechersky Monastery began to appear in chronicles. Lavra status was awarded only in 1688.

In 1073, a stone one was erected in place of the wooden temple, which stood for only five years. The Polovtsian horde attacked Kyiv and destroyed many of its shrines, including the Pechersky Monastery. Only by the beginning of the 12th century. the monastery was able to recover, but during the 12-13th centuries. several times became the object of robberies of nomadic peoples. The attack on Kyiv in 1240 caused enormous damage to the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery and the monks, some of whom were killed, while others simply fled.

The revival of the monastery began in 1470, when it was completely rebuilt. Raids occurred, but the temples and cells of the holy place did not suffer much. At the beginning of the 18th century. Part of the library, monastery, and residential buildings were destroyed by fire, but the church itself survived.

20th century became one of the most difficult in history for the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The Bolsheviks tried to destroy him, but they were dissuaded from this idea. The occupation of Kyiv in 1941 by German troops was also a tragedy for the monks of the monastery. A police station was set up here, the Assumption Cathedral was blown up, from where all valuables and jewelry had previously been removed. After Ukraine gained independence, renovation of the monastery began. In particular, the Lavra lithograph was restored, the cells were updated, the church was restored, the Assumption Cathedral was restored according to ancient drawings and diagrams.

Shrines of the Lavra

• The monastery is known for its underground world, which is divided into Near (Antoniev) and Far Caves. They contain the incorruptible relics of 79 saints (in the Near Caves) and 49 saints in the Far Caves. In the Anthony Caves there are ancient burials, among which the relics of St. Anthony occupy a place of honor. In the underground world there are three streets, a cave church, and a refectory. Theodosius is buried in the Far Caves, there is a church named after the saint, his cell and several underground temples.
• The Icon of the Mother of God “The Queen of All” is considered miraculous. In 2010, one of the parishioners received her sight while bending towards the image.
• The image of the Mother of God “Pechersk Praise” heals from ailments.
• Myrrh-streaming heads are relics of the Lavra, which became the heads of saints. The monks keep them for centuries in vessels with a special solution. When the chapters dry out, they begin to bleed myrrh.

Lavra infrastructure

There are various buildings and structures on the territory of the monastery. These are bell towers, churches, towers and temples. In particular, the Assumption Cathedral and the bell tower are located in the Near Caves, and the bell tower and the Refectory Church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius in the Far Caves. In the Lavra complex there are monks' cells, the abbot's residence, a seminary, and hospital wards.

How to get there

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is located on Lavrskaya Street 23.

You can get here by metro, getting off at Arsenalnaya station. Then you can go through the underground passage to the bus and trolleybus stop. Bus No. 24 and trolleybus No. 38 go to the Lavra. Get off at the “National Museum of the Great Patriotic War” stop. Then walk along Lavrskaya Street to the gate, which will then lead out to Bliznepecherskaya Street, or walk a little further - to the Holy Gates (main entrance).

You can walk straight from Arsenalnaya all the time, and in 15 minutes you will see the monastery.

There was a deep forest in which Sergius of Radonezh with his brother Stefan founded a small monastery in order to concentrate in solitude and send prayers to the Creator for help to all of Rus'.

The fact is that this happened in those distant times when Rus' suffered from constant devastating raids by Horde troops. Saving their family from death, the parents of the future Sergius - Kirill and Maria with three children fled from Rostov to town of Radonezh. At the end of their lives, their parents went to the Khotkov Monastery, where they later died. And Bartholomew (the future Sergius of Radonezh) and his brother Stefan decided to become hermits.

Foundation of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Together the brothers cut down a cell and a small church in honor of Trinity in a remote uninhabited place. However, Stefan, unable to withstand the harsh life in the forest: the scarcity of lean plant food and the hard work of obtaining it, winter frosts and fear from wild animals, soon went to a comfortable Moscow monastery. St. Sergius remained one among firs and bears. But he was not alone in soul - God and his Saints were with him.

Rumors about Sergius’s hermit’s life spread throughout Rus', and his presence with God attracted the souls of people seeking righteousness. And people flocked to Sergius, and many remained to live with him - this is how the Sergiev community, which in the first decades of its existence lived in terrible poverty. But gradually the wilderness turned into a monastic city. And Sergius of Radonezh, for his boundless love for God and people, began to be called saints.

And it was to Saint Sergius that he turned for blessing Moscow Prince Dmitry Donskoy before the decisive battle with the Mongol adversaries - the Battle of Kulikovo. The monk strengthened the spirit of the Russian army by predicting victory, as a result of which Dmitry became the national leader of all Russian lands, and Moscow became the center of the unification of Rus'.

Thanks to the support of the holy elder Dmitry Donskoy introduced in Rus' autocracy and a new order of succession to the throne, which contributed to the centralization of power. St. Sergius always advocated an end to internecine wars, for the unity and strengthening of the Russian state.

After the death of Saint Sergius, both the Russian nobility and the common people flocked to the monastery to pray at the tomb of the Saint. Russian monarchs did not ignore the Lavra - the reign of each of them was marked by some kind of construction or reconstruction on the territory of the monastery. And over time, the monastery turned into a beautiful architectural ensemble.

At the beginning of the 15th century, a white stone church was erected on the site of the very first wooden church. Trinity Cathedral, during the construction of which the relics of the Venerable were found. Thus began the formation of the stone temple complex of the Lavra.

In the middle of the 16th century, with Ivan the Terrible The monastery in Sergiev Posad, in which, by the way, Ivan was baptized, turned into a defensive structure - brick walls were built, fortified with towers, ditches were dug and dams were built. Then a powerful Assumption Cathedral, as the image and likeness of Moscow.

In times of Troubles Behind these walls, the monks of the monastery bravely withstood a sixteen-month siege by Polish troops. After the Time of Troubles, times of rapid development of the monastery began. The number of peasant farms belonging to him was much greater than that of the tsar himself. The monastery had factories producing bricks for construction needs. Fruit gardens were created around the monastery, and fish were bred in ponds.

At Peter the Great the elegant and fundamental Refectory Church and the Royal Palaces, as well as the Church of John the Baptist, were built. But after Russia entered into confrontation with Sweden and the beginning of the creation of a new capital on the Neva at the beginning of the 18th century, by decree of the Tsar, construction on the territory of the monastery temporarily ceased.

However, in the middle of the 18th century, when Queen Elizabeth, a new stage in the development of the Lavra began. Was open Dseminary, and later the Moscow Theological Academy moved here. Elizabeth herself visited the monastery often, accompanying her visits with entertainment events, for which a special Palace was built outside the walls of the monastery (now it is the Skete Ponds Park). Under Elizabeth, the construction of the Bell Tower began.

By the middle of the 19th century monastery - a large and wealthy landowner who traded in grain, household items, and salt. By the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery operated a printing house, hotels, trading shops, and various workshops.

After the revolution, the monastery was closed, the monks were evicted, church valuables were confiscated, many bells were destroyed, the temple premises were used as educational institutions, clubs, and canteens.

But Lavra’s story did not end there.

History of the Sergius Lavra after the revolution

It's interesting that in the midst of Great Patriotic War Stalin entered into negotiations with the Orthodox Church, as a result of which some of the religious buildings were returned to the believers. This also affected the Sergius Lavra, in which the building of the Theological Academy began to function again in 1946, in Assumption Cathedral Services resumed, the monks began to return to the monastery.

In the 90s of the 20th century Active restoration work began in the Lavra to save architectural and cultural monuments. And near the walls of the monastery a bronze Monument to St. Sergius Radonezh.

Today Sergius Lavra is one of the world centers of Orthodox culture and education. The Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, Regency and Icon Painting Schools are located here, Christmas and Glin readings, theological conferences, etc. are held.

Address: Russia, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad
Based: in 1337
Founder: Sergius of Radonezh
Main attractions: Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity (1423), Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1585), Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit (1477), Gate Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist (1699), Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God (1748) , bell tower (1770)
Shrines: relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, relics of St. Micah, Nikon, Dionysius of Radonezh, St. Maxim the Greek, St. Anthony (Medvedev), Saints Serapion of Novgorod, Joasaph of Moscow, Innocent of Moscow, Macarius (Nevsky)
Coordinates: 56°18"37.3"N 38°07"48.9"E

The Trinity-Sergius Lavra, or Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, is a male stauropegial monastery founded in the 14th century by St. Sergius of Radonezh (in the world Bartholomew). It is located 52 km from Moscow, in the city of Sergiev Posad. According to historical sources, the future founder of the Lavra was born in the spring of 1314 into a boyar family living in Rostov.

Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius from a bird's eye view

The parents named their newborn baby Bartholomew, and from childhood they raised him in faith in the Almighty. Some time after his birth, little Bartholomew and his family went to permanent residence in the town of Radonezh. There, with all family members, he regularly attended all the services conducted by the ministers of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos (at that time the shrine was part of the Intercession Khotkov Monastery).

Having reached the age of 20, Bartholomew decided to accept monasticism and devote himself to the Lord, and asked for parental blessing for this activity. Of course, the father and mother approved of their son’s life choice, but they asked him not to enter monasticism until their death.

They motivated this request by their old age and the lack of close people who could take care of them, because Bartholomew’s older brothers were already married at that time and lived in their own houses. But in 1337, after the death of his parents, Bartholomew finally realized his dream of serving God and went with his brother Stefan, who was widowed by that time, to the wilderness of the Moscow region.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On Makovtse Hill, located near the Konchura River, they built a small temple, honoring the Holy Trinity with this action. Three years later, in 1340, the temple was consecrated.

Life in the wilderness turned out to be joyless for Stefan, and he left his brother, who meekly served the Lord. Not having the kind of fortitude that Bartholomew had, Stefan moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery and later became its abbot. Bartholomew himself spent the day and night in work, worries and prayers. So 2 years passed, and the rumor about the silent hermit spread throughout the area. His skete began to be surrounded by the cells of other monks who wished to serve the Almighty in the wilderness and took up isolated residence in the Trinity Hermitage.

Red gate tower with Holy Gate

After some time, ordinary residents appeared in the same area, trying to hide in the wilderness from the invasion of the Tatars.

The abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery, Father Mitrofan, took upon himself all the care of the monks. He tonsured Bartholomew a monk, giving him the name Sergius. The newly minted monk became a faithful assistant to the abbot, and when his mentor passed away, Sergius himself began to take care of the inhabitants of the monastery and its improvement.

The heyday of the Trinity Monastery under Sergius of Radonezh

Initially, the monastery was located on the southwestern slope of Makovetsky Hill. The Trinity Church with a refectory stood surrounded by wooden cells, and all the buildings were buried in the greenery of centuries-old trees.

Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity

Immediately behind the cells there were vegetable gardens laid out by the monks. There they grew vegetables and erected small outbuildings.

The fence of the Trinity Monastery was a wooden fence, and the top of the entrance gate was decorated with a church that perpetuated the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica. You could get into the monastery courtyard along a narrow path, which was later widened to allow carts to pass through. In general, all the buildings of the Lavra were divided into 3 parts: public, residential, defensive. It is noteworthy that the repeated reconstructions carried out on the territory of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra did not affect the layout of the buildings.

Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit

According to the Lavra Chronicle, in the 60s of the 14th century, Sergius not only accepted the priesthood, but also received a letter, a cross and a simple blessing in verbal form from Felofey, Patriarch of Constantinople (he approved Sergius’ decision to introduce the rules of the “Common Rule” in the monastery ). The number of inhabitants in the monastery grew steadily, and in 1357 Archimandrite Simon moved here. Thanks to his rich donations, a new Trinity Church and buildings for various purposes were built in the monastery courtyard.

Sergius of Radonezh died at the end of September 1392 in the Holy Trinity Monastery itself. The holy founder of the Lavra was buried at the Trinity Church.

Church of Zosima and Savvatiy at the hospital wards

The main buildings of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which have become its attractions

The white-stone Trinity Cathedral, built from 1422 to 1423, became the first Russian architectural monument honoring the founder of the Lavra, Sergius of Radonezh. The golden-domed shrine appeared on the territory of the monastery in the year of the canonization of Sergius, when his name was officially announced as the “patron of the Russian land.” The ashes of the deceased saint are kept here, in the cathedral, and the tombstone with his image is in the museum. The iconostasis of the cathedral is rich in works by Andrei Rublev, Daniil Cherny and the best masters of their school. Among all the icons, the “Trinity” created by Rublev himself stands out. As the main temple of the Lavra, the Trinity Cathedral was decorated during construction with strict ornamental ribbons, in keeping with the traditions of asceticism.

Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

The second most important shrine building is the Temple of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Its construction was carried out in 1476 by Pskov masons, who used brick in their work. The result of their work was the Spiritual Church, attractive with the unusual location of the bell tower under the dome. In ancient times, churches with such a top were called “like bells,” which meant a combination of a church and a belfry in one building. But overall her style is uncomplicated.

The Assumption Cathedral is recognized as the main one in the Lavra. Its construction began back in 1559 by the craftsmen of Ivan the Terrible. And work on the construction of the cathedral ended in 1584, under Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich.

Metropolitan's chambers

The appearance of the shrine is distinguished by its simultaneous simplicity and severity, and only the five-domed top indicates its greatness. The interior of the cathedral is attractive with a huge carved iconostasis. Behind it, high above, there are platforms for singers. During the monks’ chants, parishioners feel as if their voices are coming “like from heaven.” All the walls and vaults of this cathedral are covered with unique frescoes. Their production dates back to the summer of 1684, and the names of the artists can be read on the western wall of the temple, under the towel painting.

The Temple of Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky is a neat tented church that appeared in the monastery courtyard in honor of the disciples of Sergius of Radonezh. It is part of the Hospital Wards complex.

Bell tower

For a long time, no one was involved in its improvement, and it gradually collapsed. But thanks to the skillful actions of the experienced restorer Trofimov I.V. The red and white temple regained its former grandeur and became one of the picturesque corners of the monastery. Inside it is decorated with green glazed tiles.

Smolensk Church is an elegant building, part of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. It owes its appearance to the architect Ukhtomsky, who designed it in the “Elizabethan Baroque” style. The unusual layout of the building lies in its 8-sided shape with curvilinear convex-concave edges. The lower part of the church is represented by a high white stone plinth. To date, 3 porches with grand staircases have been restored in the shrine building.

Tomb of the Godunovs

The crown of the head-shako is a cross trampling the crescent. This design of the top of the church is explained by wars with Muslim Turkey - a frequent occurrence in the 18th century.

The Nadkladeznaya Chapel is located next to the Assumption Cathedral. Her unusual appearance immediately attracts the attention of parishioners. Three octagons installed on a quadrangle - this architectural design was often found in the design of buildings of the 17th century, and the Nadkladeznaya Chapel became another embodiment of Naryshkin architecture. Another Nadkladeznaya chapel, Pyatnitskaya, stands east of the Pyatnitskaya and Vvedenskaya churches. Over the several centuries of its existence, it has lost many decorations and has not experienced restoration.

Gate Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist

But its wavy roof with light eights, the remains of platbands and a skillfully crafted entrance portal speak of the former beauty of this small structure.

The Tsar's Palace is a huge royal palace built for Alexei Mikhailovich. Such a distinguished guest often visited the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and his retinue included more than 500 souls. Such a large number of visitors needed a certain shelter, which explained the appearance of the Halls in the monastery courtyard. Despite its purpose - to provide a roof over the head of the king and his entourage, the spacious building had simple shapes. However, the decoration of its interiors, and the external tiles, and 2 tiled stoves seemed to hint at what kind of dear guests this building was being prepared for.