Shrine chosen by Virgin Mary: Why this Cathedral in Kyiv's Lavra is so special

Ostapenko says that, according to church tradition, the site for this cathedral was chosen by the Mother of God on her own. Over the course of a thousand years, this sacred site has witnessed the key stages of Ukrainian history — rise, decline, destruction, and revival.

A church risen from ruins

In 1941, the cathedral was almost completely destroyed — only one-eighth of the structure remained. For decades, its restoration was effectively banned by Soviet authorities. Only after Ukraine gained independence was the shrine rebuilt — in the year 2000 — becoming a powerful symbol of Ukraine’s national revival.

"It is a major achievement for both the people of Ukraine and the state authorities, who made the decision to fully restore the shrine in just two years. This is a powerful symbol that Ukraine has truly become an independent state," Ostapenko notes.

Rebuilt Dormition Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

Mazepa Baroque instead of imperial narratives

During the restoration of the Dormition Cathedral, a fundamental decision was made: to return the church to its appearance from the 17th–18th centuries, in the style known as Ukrainian Cossack or Mazepa Baroque. This style was deliberately destroyed during the imperial era and replaced with classical Russian ecclesiastical art, emphasizing the "Great Russia" idea.

Now, the interiors feature wall paintings and a magnificent iconostasis again, restored based on historical models, including contributions from Hetman Ivan Skoropadsky.

Iconostasis of the Dormition Cathedral (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

"This is not just beautiful. It’s about returning to ourselves, to our spiritual identity that others tried to erase," Ostapenko emphasizes.

In 2025, it will be 25 years since the cathedral’s reconstruction — a milestone for the church and Ukraine’s journey toward rediscovering its roots and strength.

Earlier, we reported that the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is undergoing a historic transformation — after the departure of the Moscow Patriarchate, it is returning to the Ukrainian spiritual space. Director General Maksym Ostapenko explained that the Lavra is being deliberated from Russian narratives, propaganda, and ideology. This marks a return to Ukrainian identity, which Russia had attempted to erase for centuries by replacing Ukrainian heroes and traditions with its myths.

We also previously covered how Russia had been preparing for the occupation of the Lavra.