Near Caves and Church of the Elevation of the Cross, Kiev

The Near Caves are part of the historic Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and were founded in 1051 by Saint Anthony, who also appointed the first abbot of the monastery. Unlike living quarters, the caves primarily served as an underground necropolis and space for cave churches.

The labyrinth of interconnected corridors and chambers includes three underground churches: the Church of Saint Anthony, the Church of Saint Barlaam, and the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin. Visitors can view religious relics, preserved remains of monks, and centuries-old artifacts that reflect the spiritual life of the monastic community.

Above the caves stands the Church of the Elevation of the Cross, constructed between 1700 and 1704. The church is notable for its surviving carved icons from 1769 and for its Neoclassical-style brother’s cells built in the 1830s. The church historically served the monks associated with the Near Caves and continues to host religious services, maintaining its connection to the Lavra’s spiritual traditions.

Exploring the Near Caves allows visitors to see how monastic burial practices and religious worship were combined in a subterranean environment.

The underground churches, relics, and preserved architecture provide insight into the religious, cultural, and artistic history of Kyiv over nearly a millennium.