Univ Lavra Explained

Univ Holy Dormition Lavra of the Studite Rite
Native Name:Ukrainian: Свято-Успенська Унівська Лавра Студійського уставу
Map Type:Ukraine Lviv Oblast#Ukraine
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Label:Univ Lavra
Location:Univ, Lviv Raion, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
Owner:Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Embedded:
Wikidata:yes
Zoom:15
Marker:religious-christian

Univ Holy Dormition Lavra of the Studite Rite (Ukrainian: Свято-Успенська Унівська Лавра Студійського уставу) is the only lavra of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. It is situated in Univ, Lviv Raion, Lviv Oblast. The monastery houses about 100 Studite Brethren.

History

The original Orthodox monastery was founded ca. 1400 by Theodore, the son of Liubartas. Parts of the 15th century walls survive. The abbey was surrounded by a high rampart and a deep moat. The main church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It was built after a Tatar raid in 1548 and looks like a small fortress. A two-storey bell tower from the 1630s stands nearby.

In the 18th century Univ housed a printing house. The monastery was disbanded in 1790. Mykhajlo Levitsky transformed the property into his residence. The moat was filled in and parts of the medieval wall were demolished. Levitsky's summer palace dates from the 1820s. The lavra was re-established in 1904 on the basis of the Krystinopil (now Chervonohrad) Basil Monastery by the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.

See also