Trinity Cathedral, Pochaev

If you decide to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of western Ukraine, look into the town of Pochaev in the Ternopil region. There is an Orthodox shrine - the Pochaev Lavra. The need for its creation arose during the Tatar invasion of the lands of Ukraine.

If you decide to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of western Ukraine, look into the town of Pochaev of the Ternopil region. There is an Orthodox shrine - the Pochaev Lavra.

The need for its creation arose during the Tatar invasion of the lands of Ukraine. In the middle of the 13th century, when Kiev was under the possession of the Crimean Khan, the monks of the Pechersk Lavra managed to escape by flight. They settled in the town of Pochaiv, where they decided to recreate the lost shrine.

Now the Pochaev Lavra is one of the few Orthodox buildings in western Ukraine. On its territory you can visit the Assumption Cathedral, the cells, the Bishop's House, the Gate House, the belfry, whose height reaches 65 meters, and the Trinity Cathedral. All these buildings were built at different times. The most recent was built the Trinity Church - from 1906 to 1912. It was with its construction that the Orthodox education of the Western Catholic community began. The time of the creation of the temple was also a time of acquaintance of the Russian and Ukrainian people with the legacy of the Old Russian Orthodox architecture. In addition, in the Pochaev Lavra, all Orthodox church services were held in the Assumption Cathedral, the arrangement of which was more suitable for Catholic worship. Therefore, the architect Alexei Shchusev decided to build the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the true Old Russian style of the 15th century. In such a temple it was possible to conduct service, adhering to all Orthodox canons.

Being on the territory of the Pochaev Lavra, you will immediately recognize the Trinity Cathedral. The building of the Pochaev shrine has the shape of a cube, which ends with a golden dome. On the western side a tower is built for passage to the choir. From the south, west and north there are entrances to the inner hall of the cathedral. Above them bright vivid pictures of the hand of Nicholas Roerich - the great Russian artist. On the south side is the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, to whom the holy princes bowed, from the north - a mosaic of the New Testament Trinity with Golgotha ​​in the center, and the western entrance is decorated with the image of the Pochaev Mother of God, which the Volynian saints bowed. Outside, the Trinity Cathedral is completely white and decorated mainly with relief decorations.

Go inside the temple. Small narrow windows let light into the middle of the hall, where the dome is located. From there you can see the wall painting, made with special paints, which create the effect of mosaic decoration. Therefore, it harmoniously combines with the paintings of Nicholas Roerich. Later, the walls and ceiling of the temple were painted by the artists Vsevolod Shcherbakov and Alexander Frolov. In this case, a special paint was also used, which created a light haze effect. You can see for yourself, having been inside the cathedral.

In the Holy Trinity shrine there are two iconostasis, designed by the architect of the temple Alexei Shchusev. Equal in size gold iconostases seem to merge into one and form a four-tier structure. The interior of the Trinity Church is made in the traditions of ancient Russian architecture. Being in this temple, you will get the impression that you made a trip to a long time.

In addition, on the territory of the monastery there are several miraculous shrines - the relics of saints in the crypt of the Assumption Cathedral, the miraculous Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God.

You will also have the opportunity to try the water from the healing spring, which is located here. It is believed that it was consecrated by the Mother of God itself with its touch.

In Pochaev you can get from Ternopil or Kiev by shuttle bus, which depart directly from the railway stations. Or you can come by train from Kiev, going to the Radivilov station. From it go minibuses directly to the entrance of the Pochaev Lavra.