Zverinetsky Monastery, Kiev: address, photo and history

Since ancient times the capital of Ukraine was famous for its temples and monasteries, attracting pilgrims from everywhere. Many say that the city, which is "marked with the finger of God" and literally permeated with the spirit of Christianity, brings to man a sense of harmony and tranquility. The golden domes of Kiev's numerous churches attract the eye, surprising and captivating tourists, and the architectural forms of the numerous religious buildings give a real aesthetic pleasure.

In the history of the city, a special place is occupied by such famous cathedrals as the Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra, which is the first Christian monastery in Russia, and the St. Sophia Cathedral. The architectural ensemble of the first tourists amazes with its magnificence, and in the second one one can see unique frescoes dating from the eleventh century. Both of these cathedrals are considered the World Heritage of UNESCO. Kiev is also called "Jerusalem of the Russian Land". After all, it is difficult to convey the inmost experiences experienced by the Orthodox, touching the holy places of this ancient city. But not only Kiev-Pechersk Lavra or St. Sophia Cathedral is famous for the capital of Ukraine, and once also Kievan Rus. There are many other equally interesting temples and churches, which must be seen by everyone who comes here. And one of them is the Zverinetsky Monastery in Kiev.

How to get there

Those who decide to explore this landmark on their own can come to it from Michurin Street - to plots 20 and 22. After passing through the gate, it will be necessary to go up to the metal door. At the entrance to the Zverinetsky Monastery you should call and wait for the conductor. You can get to it through the Botanical Garden, by taking a trolleybus number 14 or buses 62 and 62K from the metro station "Pecherskaya". You need to get off at the bus stop "Bolsunivsky Street". If you go by subway, then you need to get off at the station "Friendship of Peoples". From her to the Zverinetsky Monastery in Kiev, whose address: Michurin Street 20-22, can be reached on foot in just fifteen minutes.

To the attention of pilgrim groups arriving by bus: near the temple, the travel and turn of vehicles with a length of more than nine meters is greatly complicated. Therefore, it's better to park somewhere on Strutinsky Street and climb up the street. Michurin, walk to the cave complex.

general information

The Zverinetsky Monastery in Kiev is located in the historic district of the capital of Ukraine with the same name. It is listed in the register of monuments of archeology, which have national significance for the country. The Zverinetsky cave monastery has a thousand-year history. It was hidden in the dungeons on the right bank of the Dnieper River. The existence of this amazing and unique monastery has been recognized by mankind almost a century and a half ago. However, it must be said that the secrets hidden by the ancient Zverinetsky monastery in Kiev have not been unraveled until now.

Mentioned that the holy abode is located on this territory, the scientists found in the annals of the Red Court, in which the son of Yaroslav the Wise lived Vsevolod. The name "Zverinets", according to historians, is associated with the wooded area where this prince hunted. It is also known that in 1096-1097 years of our chronology as a result of the nomadic raid it was here that some monastery was destroyed. Judging by the human bones found in the underground cells, both monks and locals were hiding in underground caves during the attacks of the Mongol-Tatars, where they were often found attacked and buried alive.

The monastery also served as a refuge during the Second World War. This is evidenced by the inscription found on the wall found by archeologists, dated 1941. Currently, on the basis of the restored skete of the caves of the same name, there is a common man's Zverinetsky monastery here. It was founded in 2009. Seven people live there: five monks and two novices.

History

In 1888 a report appeared in one of the Ukrainian newspapers, which said that on the twelfth of October of the same year a cave was opened near the Holy Trinity Monastery on Zverinets. It happened completely by accident. Eyewitnesses, according to chroniclers, told that an unexpected rumble was heard, and then the entrance to the cave was opened. The first visitor to the new-found monastery was Feodosia Matviyenko. This pious woman lived near this place. To her many times in a dream came a vision: a moving rainbow at one end rested precisely in the place where the cave-hole was formed.

Upon learning of the discovery, Theodosius first descended. In the failure, she saw numerous human remains. Some of them were buried in special niches, and the rest are scattered along the entire cave space, and in different positions - apparently, as they were found by death. Theodosius asked the brothers of the Holy Trinity Church to serve a funeral service to the souls of people found by her in the newly discovered cave. After listening to her story, the monks, with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery of the elder-Archimandrite Jonah, descended to personally examine the cave.

In it, along with numerous human remains, they found fragments of monastic clothing, crosses, paramans, leather cassocks, church utensils and utensils. All these findings indicated that in the failure were found not random human burials, but one of the ancient cave monasteries, which the city of Kiev had long been famous for.

Amazing discovery

It was here that a unique image of the cross, called "Zverinetsky", was found. In its form, it is very similar to the schematic image of the human body, because in addition to the basis for us from the crossed two lines, he also has two ... "legs."

For a long time, until 1912, the Zverinetsky monastery could not be investigated. The fact is that then his territory was at the disposal of the Artillery department, so there was no money to study it. It was necessary to find a philanthropist who would like to finance research work. And fortunately, that was found. It was Prince Vladimir Zhevakhov. He, having bought the land over the failure, received permission to excavate in the caves in the city government.

In 1912 the work began. They were led by Alexander Ertel, a member of the Society for the Preservation of Antiquities of Kiev. Zhevakhov himself only watched the work and financed it.

Years of Soviet Power

Almost immediately the caves became a place for pilgrimage. A huge number of people, gathering at the entrance to them, wanted to get to the ancient Zverinetsky monastery. The schedule of ongoing work had to be constantly changed, since the flow of pilgrims prevented researchers from working. People came here after the end of the study, right up to the thirties. Crowds of pilgrims stopped coming here only after the raids and persecutions of Soviet power began. In 1933 the abbot of the monastery Archimandrite Filaret was killed, and in 1934 the Zverinetsky monastery was closed, and after his building was blown up. Access to the caves was reopened only after the nineties of the last century.

Revival of the monastery

When in 1993 specialists examined the relics found in caves, they came to the conclusion that the latter belong to the tenth-twelfth centuries. In addition, it was found that all those people whose remains were analyzed, suffered during life such diseases, which affect the human body from a long stay in cold and damp conditions. This was another proof that the monks were hiding here. In 1997, the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin was revived here, and already in 2009 - on its base the Archangel-Mikhailovsky Zverinetsky Monastery was established. Since then, services are regularly held here. Everyone wants to make a pilgrimage to the caves and, of course, the Zverinetsky Monastery is sure to visit. Schedule services can be found in the temple or look at the official site of the temple.

Unique finds

When the underground galleries were cleared, an ancient cypress image of the Mother of God was found inside one of the cells. It is likely that this icon belonged to the Metropolitan, whom Prince Vladimir brought from Korsun for the baptism of Rus. Scientists know that he was a Syriac. Metropolitan Michael baptized the people of Kiev and it is quite possible that he founded the Zverinetsky Monastery in Kiev. The photos, which were made by historians during excavations, indicate that this cave monastery was ruined either by the Polovtsi or Tatars. Many remains were found directly at the entrance to the caves and in the aisles. Apparently, the invaders, having lost hope, simply fell asleep.

The revival of the church began immediately after the war. The caves received the status of the Monument of Archeology. In the late nineties of the last century monks of the Ioninsky monastery resumed divine services held in the cave temple, which is the Zverinetsky monastery in Kiev. Photo of the eponymous miracle-working image, found in the dungeon, was placed in one of the editions. This newspaper fell into the hands of the priest of one of the villages located near Kiev. With great surprise, the priest recognized it that icon, before which he daily prayed to God. In 2000, the miracle-working image was returned to the Trinity Church of the Ioninsky Monastery.

Zverinetsky Monastery: schedule of services

From those times immemorial it was considered that the place where the Zverinets caves are located is one of the most sacred points for Ukraine and Russia. And even though the part of the brotherhood left its underground cells with the construction of the ground Svyatomihailovsky or Vydubitsky temple, and the underground monastery itself was destroyed by the Tatar-Mongol invaders and buried in oblivion for almost 800 years, today they continue to attract pilgrims who come here from all corners Our vast country. Their amazing history and mystery is attracted to the amazing Zverinetsky Monastery in Kiev.

The schedule of services held within the walls of the monastery can be viewed on the official site of the temple. On Sundays at 7.15, and on weekdays at 6.30 in the morning, Midnight is held here. By the small evening it is necessary to come at 17.00. The Thanksgiving Liturgy is held at the Cave Temple on Saturdays at 7.00 am. On Sundays at the same time Vechernya and the Akathist Archangel Michael are served .

Zverinetsky (Archangel Michael) monastery for today is a huge complex. On its territory there is a cave church, consecrated in the name of the Miracle of the Archangel Michael, the Gateway Church and the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God. Divine services are held both in the above-ground and in the underground rooms that enter the complex of the Zverinetsky Monastery. The schedule of services, as well as a list of all church holidays today can be found on its official website.

Shrines

Ancient Zverinetsky monastery is interesting for contemporaries not only with its amazing history. There are also numerous sacred relics. Among them are such honored icons as the image of the Mother of God "Zverinetskaya", "Joy of All Who Sorrow", "Skoroposlushnitsa". Here are the relics of all the Reverend Fathers of the Menagerie.

Information for tourists

Zverinetsky underground caves are formed by three galleries-streets: Altar, Funeral (Nameless burials) and Nameless (unexplored burials). The cells, as well as the group crypts, are completely paneled for safety. They protect against the collapse. The walls and loculi of the Funeral Street were bricked several years ago. Above this part of the underground passages there was at one time the foundation of the temple.

The total length of the streets is about one hundred and fifty meters. They are completely safe for visiting tourists. On the left side at the end of the Altar Street there is a burial burial place, signed in the name of Theodore the Cripple, on the right is the cell of Andronik Peschnik. In the temple above the altar in the stone, a list of eight hegumenes of the Zverinetskih was carved: Leontius (the founder of the monastery), Marcian, Michael (later Bishop of Yuryevsky), Sophronius, Mina (later Bishop of Polotsk), Clement, Manuel and Lazarus.

Tourists can also come into contact with the life of the ancient inhabitants of this cave temple. The monks slept in narrow, cold faces, and pillows for them served clay speeches. The residents dined on tables that were smooth surfaces of caves. The zoo monasteries buried their fellow monks very modestly: they simply put a man in the ground between two boards, then the second was lowered to the body of the first and then to the third. Piles of already yellowed from time bones layers interspersed with stones are visible from behind the bars in the narrow tunnel of the dungeon. Here you can also see ceramic vessels, from which human skulls look. In the grave niche, where the hegumen Clement is buried, they found a small metal icon. It was covered with white enamel, which should protect the metal from corrosion. The icon depicts the image of the Virgin "Hodigitria". Subsequently, people discovered that it is miraculous and heals from disease. Here you can also see the relics of Michael - the Metropolitan, who, as already mentioned, inspired Prince Vladimir to be baptized in Kievan Rus.

Interesting Facts

It is said that the philanthropist Zhevakhov, whose money was used to excavate, was hiding in the Zverinetsk caves after the revolution. However, then he was caught and spent seven months in one of Kiev's prisons. Coming out of prison, Zhevakhov became a monk, and in 1926 - a bishop. In 1937 he was arrested by the NKVD. A few months later, Zhevakhov was shot for resisting the regime.

Many legends and legends are built around the underground cave monastery. Of course, skeptics might think that the miraculous discovery of this place of power is just an ordinary geophysical phenomenon: supposedly the roar could be from a collapse, and the rainbow is caused by the refraction of light. However, pilgrims, and many Romantic tourists come here just to be able to imbue with that amazing aura that this shrine has. There are talks that here, in the pavilions of the Zverinets hills, the legendary library belonging to Yaroslav the Wise could also be hidden.