Kyivo-pecherska Lavra

The Pecherska Lavra monastery was found­ed in 11 century. The building continued in for about 9 next centuries. The name Pecherska comes from the word «peshera» (cave) which was situated there. The monks used to live in these caves, more then 900 years the imperish­able bodies of the monastery's founders - the Venerable Theodosius and Anthony, Agapit the Healer, Nestor the Chronicler, and relics of others 118 saints are slept there.

Lavra is usually called some big monasteries, which by their sizes and buildings looked like small towns, with own streets («lavra» in Greek means «the street»). And the life in this monk's towns is submitted to such clear lows and orders, as it’s impossible to be a full monastic life without.

There are 102 stone constructions based in 26 hectares area, which are recognized architectural monuments. There are more than 60 thousand of the displays in the reserve funds. There are the easel painting works of art, works of arts and crafts and old-printed books.

MUSEUM OF GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR

This World War II memorial complex, which opened in 1981, includes a museum with 18 dif­ferent galleries, an eternal flame, numerous exhibits of documents of military commanders, participants of the war, collection of orders, medals and letters, documentary evidences of the war witnesses, unique things of the occupation and the liberation attract visitors' attention.

The centerpiece of it all is of course the mas­sive titanium statue of woman «Mother of the Motherland», 62m tall to be exact, grasping a 12-ton sword and a shield. Honoring Soviet defend­ers during World War II, its Socialist Realism style is an interesting contrast to the nearby ancient golden domes of Pecherska Lavra.