Monasteries of modern Ukraine are a collection of church institutions that belong to the Orthodox churches of the Kiev and Moscow Patriarchates, the Armenian Apostolic Church, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic churches, as well as Buddhists and Muslims. All of them are objects of pilgrimage and sightseeing tourism.
What monasteries are there in Ukraine?
According to the latest data, 191 monasteries operate on the territory of Ukraine, 95 of them are women's and 96 are male. But these are only Orthodox monasteries of Ukraine. They are practically on all its territory, in every region. However, Catholic monasteries prevail in the west, the Sufi (Islamic) and Armenian monasteries continue to operate in the Crimea. At the end of the 20th century, a Buddhist monastery appeared in the Donetsk region.
At present, most of the monasteries are functioning, although many are now in the process of restoration, and there are also those that are in the process of transferring to religious communities. A small number of buildings are destroyed or are a matter of controversy about belonging to a particular Christian denomination.
Virtually all male and female monasteries of Ukraine declare their openness to tourists. The most hospitable of them even arrange hotels for pilgrims and provide them with free tables. Of course, the development of religious tourism is supported by the state.
The largest monument of Ukraine is the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (XII century), which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. At Lavra there is a hotel, excursions for pilgrims are organized. On its territory there is a man's monastery.
Svyatogorsky Monastery in Ukraine
Svyatogorskaya Lavra, located on Dontsova steeper, embodies the whole spirituality of this region. Svyatogorie is a land that has been begotten for centuries. At all times, like a spiritual magnet, it attracted great people. There is a legend that it was here that Suvorov, returning with his army from the Crimea, stopped, so that the soldiers could heal the wounds. The Holy Mountains have long been covered in the scientific literature.
The number of brethren increases every year and now is more than 100 people. In the village of Bogorodichnoye, which adjoins the monastery, in honor of the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" a temple is opened. At 5 bell towers 54 bells are collected. Their largest weighs more than 6 tons. A beautiful fraternal choir is organized in the monastery.
On large holidays in the monastery gathers up to 15 thousand pilgrims from different countries.
The Holy Ascension Monastery in Ukraine
The Holy Ascension Banchen monastery is an unusual place in Bukovina, where Orthodox people and tourists from all over the world come. Here, every corner is filled with faith, love, great strength and peace and even the walls breathe grace. In the territory
The first stone of this monastery was laid only recently - in 1994, and it was opened after 2 years. On the territory of the monastery there is an underground church of the Monk Sergius of Radonezh, the Ascension Church, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the abbot's house, two brotherly corps, a living source, a hotel for parishioners. Its domes are visible for several tens of kilometers. The divine service here is performed in Russian and Romanian.
At the monastery there is a children's shelter, where more than three hundred children are brought up, many of whom are seriously ill. Here they gladly receive the pilgrims. Meals and accommodation are free for all.