Kiev Pechersk Lavra, a World Heritage Site

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is a historic Orthodox monastery located in the Pechersk Lavra on the west bank of the Dnieper River in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, so it is also called the Pechersk Lavra. After Ukraine's independence, the Cave Monastery has attracted many tourists as a cultural tourist attraction. On August 21, 2007, it was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine. Since the founding of the Cave Monastery in 1051, the monastery has been the center of power of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Hagia Sophia, and the Cave Monastery Complex was granted National Historic and Cultural Reserve status on March 13, 1996. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra contains numerous architectural remains, ranging from a bell tower to a cathedral, a cave system and a solid outer stone wall. The main attractions of the monastery include the Great Monastery Bell Tower and the Cathedral of the Dormition, which was destroyed in World War II and completely rebuilt in recent years. Other churches and cathedrals in the monastery include: Refectory Church, Church of All Saints, Church of the Saviour of Berestovo, Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Church of the Trinity Gate, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, Church of the Conception of St. Anne, and Church of the Life-Giving Fountain. The monastery also contains many other buildings, including: St. Nicholas Monastery, the Kiev Seminary and Theological Academy, and decorative walls. The monastery bell tower is one of the most striking features of the Kiev skyline and one of the monastery's main attractions. It is a classical-style building consisting of multiple floors and topped with a gilded dome. The bell tower is 96.5 meters high and was the tallest free-standing bell tower when it was built between 1731 and 1745. It was designed by the German Baroque architect Gottfried Johann Scheider. The monastery's main cathedral, the Dormition Church, was built in the 11th century and was destroyed during World War II, months after Nazi German troops occupied the city of Kiev and the controversial 1941 Khreshchatyk bombing destroyed the city's main street. According to Soviet authorities, the church was destroyed by advancing German troops, while at the same time German authorities put the blame on the retreating Soviet troops, who implemented scorched earth tactics, blew up all Kiev bridges over the Dnieper River and were accused in the Khreshchatyk bombing in 1941. In 1928, the monastery was converted into a museum park by Soviet authorities, and after its restitution, no measures were taken to restore the church. After Ukraine's independence in 1995, the temple was finally restored, and in 2000, the new Dormition Church was completed after two years of construction. The refectory of the Church of Saints Anthony and Theodosius was the third in a series of temples. The original temple was built in the 12th century and there are no drawings or visual depictions of it. The second temple was built during the Cossack Hetmanate and was demolished by Russian authorities in the 19th century. It was replaced by the current temple, often called the Refectory Church of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The Berestovo Church of the Saviour is located in the northern part of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. It was built in the early 11th century in the village of Berestovo during the reign of Vladimir Monomakh, and it later served as a mausoleum for the Monomakh dynasty, which included Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow. The Berestov Church of the Saviour is part of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra complex, although it is located outside the monastery fortifications. #OverseasTravel #EuropeTravel #EuropeTourism #Ukraine #Kiev #Church #Monastery #WorldCulturalHeritage #WorldHeritage #River #UkraineTravel