About This Site

Sviatohirsk Lavra is an Orthodox monastery on a steep bank of the Siverskyi Donets River in Donetsk Oblast. Founded in the 16th century, the monastery is famous for its caves carved into chalk cliffs and unique location among the Holy Mountains.

The Holy Mountains Lavra of the Holy Dormition is located on the steep right bank of the Siverskyi Donets River in a picturesque area called the Holy Mountains. The monastery is one of Ukraine's most unique Orthodox complexes due to its location and caves carved into chalk cliffs. The first written mention of the monastery dates to 1526 in the notes of Sigismund von Herberstein. Likely, the first monks settled here in the 15th century. At the time, it was a minor monastic establishment in the Wild Fields regularly ravaged by Crimean Tatars. In 1787, Catherine II had it shut down, and the monastery's lands were secularized and donated to Prince Grigory Potemkin. One of his heirs, Alexandr Mikhailovich Potemkin and his wife Tatiana (née Princess Galitzine), financed the monastery's restoration, starting in 1844. Before the October Revolution, the Sviatohirsk Monastery owned a worker's shop, windmills, various repair shops, and trading buildings. The main Dormition Cathedral was designed by Alexey Gornostaev, who included a traditional Byzantine tower. From 1917 onward, the Bolsheviks plundered and desecrated the monastery on numerous occasions, beating and murdering many monks. In 1922, they shut the monastery down completely, setting up a sanatorium for Donbas workers on the grounds. Before World War I, the monastery was inhabited by approximately 600 monks. During the 1930s, some churches were demolished by the Soviets along with numerous other religious sites throughout the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's regaining of independence in 1991, the monastery was restored in 1992. In 2004, the monastery was officially granted the status of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church lavra. Today, the monastery community consists of more than 100 monks. In 2022, during the Russian invasion, the monastery provided shelter to civilian refugees. On March 12, 2022, it was damaged by a Russian airstrike on the nearby bridge across the Donets. Subsequently, the monastery suffered numerous shellings that led to the deaths of monks and destruction of sketes and churches.

Historical Significance

First written mention — 1627, though Sigismund von Herberstein alluded to the 'Holy Mountains' as early as 1526. Likely the first monks settled in the 15th century. In 1787, Catherine II shut it down. Restoration began in 1844 funded by Prince Alexandr Potemkin. During the Soviet period (1922-1992), the monastery was closed. Restored in 1992, received Lavra status in 2004. Since 2022, has suffered damage from Russian aggression.

Highlights

• ✓Caves in chalk cliffs
• ✓Dormition Cathedral (19th c.)
• ✓Location above Siverskyi Donets River
• ✓Part of Holy Mountains National Park
• ✓DAMAGED by war (2022)

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