The Holy Ascension Florovsky Monastery

The Holy Ascension Florovsky Women's Monastery, the oldest of the existing monasteries in Kiev, is located at the foot of the Florovsky Mountain, on Podol. The exact date of the foundation of the monastery is unknown, but there is evidence of its existence even before the devastation of Kiev in 1482 by Mengli-Giray. The first documentary mention dates back to 1566 and is found in the literacy written by the Polish King Sigismund II August by the Kiev prince Ostrozhsky.

Repeated urban fires seriously damaged religious buildings, but thanks to the donations of parishioners and state help, they were all restored and even new churches were built. Over time, the monastery has become a significant center of education and culture. On the territory of the monastery was opened a school for girls from poor families, an almshouse and a hospital.

In the 17-18 centuries in the monastery , women who belonged to noble families were tonsured into nuns. Among them was Schemonahina Nektariya (Princess Dolgorukaya), Abbess Kallisfenia (Princess Miloslavskaya), Augusta (Countess Apraksina) and others.

On the territory of the monastery, next to the ancient temples, a magnificent garden with fruit trees, magnolia, rose garden isbroken. All together creates a picturesque picture, similar to a biblical garden. In the monastery do not go to "summer time". Nuns wear an old monastic form. Prosforas, Easter cakes and monastic meals are traditionally cooked on firewood.

In the monastery is read Neusypaia Psalter. This is a special type of prayer, its reading takes place round the clock, without interruption. Prayer for the living and the dead when reading the Lethargy Psalter has unprecedented power.