Pochaiv Lavra
Lavra is the name for the largest Orthodox monasteries of particular importance. Several of these are located in Ukraine. For example, there is the Pochaiv Lavra. According to legend, it was founded in the middle of the 13th century by refugees from Kyiv after it was conquered by Genghis Khan's descendants.
However, the first documented records of the monastery date back to 1527. In the 18th century, the Lavra became one of the most important centers of the Ukrainian cultural movement. Back then, the Pochaiv monastery was owned by Greek Catholics – a church combining the Catholic community rules and dogmas with Orthodox rites and the liturgical language. 1713–1832 was the Greek-Catholic period in the Lavra's history. It became a popular pilgrimage destination during this time. At the end of the 18th century, the main Baroque-style monastery church was also built – the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the Lavra's main sacred place. The top of its dome is 56 meters above the ground.
In 1730, a printing house was opened in the Pochaiv monastery. By the end of the 18th century, almost four hundred various books in different languages had been printed here. These publications were mostly liturgical, but books were also printed for laypeople and schools. Some books were printed in a language similar to the spoken Ukrainian language.
However, at the end of the 18th century, Pochaiv became part of the Russian Empire. With that, book printing and the general development of Ukrainian culture in the Lavra started to decline.
After Ukraine's independence in 1991, the Pochaiv Lavra again continued growing. For example, in 2013, the Transfiguration Cathedral with 33 domes and a large-scale mosaic covering walls and ceilings was constructed. This church can accommodate 4,500 people.