ANTHONY
CAVES
Anthony
caves of St. Trinity monastery in Chernihiv
- is a monument of underground religious architecture of the 11th
-19th centuries. They were founded in 1069 as a cave Christian
monastery by prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavych and famous church statesman of Old
Russ period Rvd. Anthony Pechers’kyi who was born in Chernihiv region in
Lyubech. According to the chronicles the monastery was originally named after
God’s Mother. The chronicler states that Anthony came to Chernihiv escaping
from the anger of Kyiv prince Izyaslav. He liked the Boldin Hills, excavated a
cave and since that time a monastery has existed on the Boldin Hills. The
foundation of the monastery was closely connected with the rivalry of two
biggest cultural and political centers of the state – Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Pecherskyi monastery had already existed in Kyiv by that time. Chernihiv prince Svatoslav trying to oppose his capital to “the mother
of Russ cities” with Anthony’s help created a similar monk’s center on Boldin
Hills.
Intensive
development of Boldin Hills God’s Mother monastery continued until 1239 when
Chernihiv was ruined by Mongol-Tartar horde.
It
is also proved by built at the beginning of the 12th century St.
Elijah church at the entrance to the caves. Then a period of decline came that
continued until the 17th century. At the same time, as researchers
believe, the reconstruction of the monastery was being held. But there are no
evidences of that in caves. The largest
reconstruction of St. Elijah monastery began in 1649. it was initiated by
Chernihiv Colonel Stepan Podobailo, who sponsored the reconstruction. With
intervals it continued until the 19th century. after those
reconstructions Anthony’s caves got their present look.
Now
Anthony’s caves is a complex of underground premises and passages with total
length of about 350 m, that are located
in the thick of Boldin Hills (in the borders of nowadays city). The depth of
the caves ranges from 2 to 12 m from the surface of the hill.
All
underground constructions are located on two basic levels. Geological
conditions allowed the builders create rooms without additional fixing and
provide their long existence. It explains the existence of large sites of old
galleries and other spaces. On some walls late-medieval graffiti
preserved.
A
special interest here causes the lower layer of caves. This site is situated to
the east of Theodosiy Totems’kyi church altar and has the length of about 100
m. It is preserved in ground variant except for three meters at the entrance
that were fixed with bricks. In different times this part of Anthony caves was
used as a living area or as an underground necropolis.
One older
part of the complex is located on the second layer. It consists of galleries
and rooms between churches of Theodosiy Totems’kyi and Mykola Svyatosha. During
the excavations a rather big Old Russ church was found (12 m long, 2-5 m wide
and 3 m high). It was left in old times and since then hasn’t been rebuilt.
To
the south from it a wide (3 m high) gallery goes in the direction of St. Elijah
church, that could be the main entrance to the complex in old times.
In
18th-19th a large
part of ancient ways of communication was rebuilt that resulted in loss of
caves’ original look. At that time three made of bricks underground temples
were built. The most architecturally interesting of them is the temple of
Theodosiy Totems’kyi. Its walls and ceilings are made in the style of Ukrainian
baroque (half-circular niches, cornices, semi-columns, arches, pilasters). The interior of St. Theodosiy church looks
like the façade of St. Trinity cathedral which was the main temple of
Trinity-Elijah monastery since the end of the 17th century.
The
church of Theodosiy Totems’kyi became the main temple of the underground complex
and the biggest underground church in the Left-Bank Ukraine. Its size is
impressive – 8.5 m high, 15.5 m long. There are choirs located behind the brick vault in the
northern part.
The
other two churches of the monastery – St. Anthony Peches’kyi (11.7 m long, 4 m
wide, 4.5 m high) and Mykola Svyatosha church (12 m long, 2.32 wide, 2.68 high)
has much simpler architecture.
High
humidity prevented from building wooden iconostases. They were replaced by
walls of bricks with metal icons on them. Holy gates were also made of metal
(preserved in St. Anthony and St. Theodosiy churches). Traditionally the cell of Anthony Pechers’kyi and the tomb of
monks killed in 1239 by Mongol-Tartars are considered to be the sacred places.
In 1967 the monument was included as
a part of Chernihiv architectural-historical park.
