“The example of the Pharisee calls us to rid ourselves of the passion of pride and arrogance…”

Verses from the Triodes: He who lives in a Pharisaical manner departs from the Church; But Christ is found within you, O humble ones. On this day, together with God, we begin the Triodion, which many of our holy and God-bearing Fathers who were poets, moved by the Holy Spirit, composed beautifully and fittingly, filling […]

Saint Anthony the Great on Wise People and Wise Souls

People are commonly called wise through an incorrect use of this word. Not those are wise who have studied the sayings and writings of the ancient sages, but those whose soul is wise, who are able to discern what is good and what is evil; who flee from what is evil and harmful to the […]

Winter Lavra in January

Through this Prayer a Person, by Grace, Attains Deification and Becomes an Angel on Earth

“As the deer longs for the springs of water, so longs my soul for You, O God. My soul has thirsted for God, the mighty, the living God: when shall I come and appear before the face of God?” — thus speaks the Psalmist David. It is said that deer feed not only on grass, […]

The Holy Archimandrite of the Lavra led the services for the Epiphany

On the eve of the great feast of Holy Theophany, the services of the All-Night Vigil were celebrated at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. Great Compline with the festal litia and Matins in the church dedicated to Saint Agapitus of the Caves were led by the Holy Archimandrite of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy of […]

Teaching on Theophany

“This is My beloved Son… Hear Him!” (Matthew 3:17; 17:5). Such was the voice of the Pre-eternal God the Father to mankind concerning the Pre-eternal God the Son, when the Son, by the will of the Father and the working of the Spirit, was made man of the Virgin and accomplished the salvation of fallen […]

The Lavra’s Holy Archimandrite Led the Festal Services for the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord

On the eighth day after the Nativity of Christ, and on the day of the New Year according to the old style, the Church celebrates the event of the Circumcision of the Lord. This Old Testament rite, appointed for all male infants, bore witness that the Son of God truly assumed human flesh, becoming truly […]

On the day of the Circumcision of the Lord and the commemoration of St. Basil the Great

Today, beloved brethren, we once again lift our eyes unto Heaven and once more cry: “O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance” (Troparion at the Lity). Saint Theophan the Recluse said: “What can be better or more perfect than to walk in the commandments of the Lord?” (Commentary on Ps. 118). When a man seeks the […]

Snow-covered Lavra

Photographs taken by аrchimandrites Barnabas, Silvestr, аrchdeacon Nicodemus

Sunday after the Nativity of Christ

On the eve of the Sunday which follows the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Lavra traditionally celebrated the services of the All-Night Vigil. In the church dedicated to Saint Agapitus of the Caves , the Vigil was led by the Holy Archimandrite of the Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery, […]