Refectory Church, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Explained

Refectory Church
Fullname:Трапезна Палата
Denomination:Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
Groundbreaking:1893
Completed Date:1895
Architect:V. N. Nikolayev
Dome Quantity:1
Location:Kyiv, Ukraine

The Refectory Church (Ukrainian: Трапезна церква, Trapezna tserkva; Russian: Трапезная церковь, Trapeznaya tserkov) is a refectory and an adjoining church of Saint Anthony and Theodosius of the medieval cave monastery of Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. In the refectory, the Lavra monks had their meals.[1] The building was constructed in 1893-1895 at a time when more than a thousand monks were living within the monastery.[1]

The sturdy dome of the church incorporates some aspects of ancient Byzantium. The interior decoration of the building was designed by Aleksey Shchusev. The marble icons are in the Neo-Russian style. The paintings in both the refectory and the church, painted in the beginning of the 20th century by Ivan Yizhakevych, G. Popov, among many others, contain a Modernist influence.[1] In the rear of the refectory is viewing area, providing visitors with a panorama of the Near and Far Caverns, the Dnieper River, and the left-bank of the city.

In 1911 following the assassination of Pyotr Stolypin, the Russian politician's funeral service was held in the Refectory church and his grave is located in the Lavra.

In the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the continued use of the church by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) has been questioned, as the lease expired on 31 December 2022.[2]

External links

50.4348°N 30.5581°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Malikenaite, Ruta . 2003 . Guidebook: Touring Kyiv . Baltia Druk . Kyiv . 966-96041-3-3.
  2. Web site: Ministry of Culture recommends not renewing Moscow Patriarchate church's lease for two churches in Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra . 28 December 2022.