The Lavra

Here is a catch up post over due from last week!! 

So this was saturday before last and we decided to do a little more touring of Kiev, and we started the day out right with some AMAZING waffles!! We were waiting for the rest of the group and saw some vendors... I know you're not suppose to do that.. but it seemed pretty safe. AND THEY WERE DELICIOUS! 

So for a little introduction, The Lavra is the largest Monastery in Kiev. It was huge! We spent about 4 hours there just looking around. This monastery was completely destroyed in WWII and restored in 2001. We saw many monks and other such things. We even ran into the highest ranked bishop(?) not really sure what he is, but he is the equivalent to the pope in the Ukrainian Orthodox church. 

It was unexpected according to our coordinator that was showing us around. What was interesting is that the group split up and Kenna was in the other group and just so happened to be standing right where the van pulled up and he got out. Our coordinator was with us and telling us who he was and Kenna who was right infront of him had no idea who he was, but saw that everyone was freaking out and surrounding him so she snapped a picture! Props to her! Literally though, it was like crazy paparazzi around him! 

Photo by Miss Mckenna

Now I am getting way ahead of myself! This was all near the end of the day. Earlier we saw the coolest part of the Lavra, which is the caves! I would get all into detail about it, but I am not going to. I will just give you a quick overview. There was a monk that built caves to live in underground, he was joined by many other monks there. The caves got bigger and bigger and the monks got older and wanted to die there. They often just had window into their rooms and when food was brought to them and was just left outside, they assumed the monk was dead and just left it like that. These caves are considered to be holy so many distinguished people were also buried down there, in that case this is what they looked like down in the caves. So these people were kind of just stacked up against the walls in these holy caves like this. There was often a painting of the person, and many people come down to these caves and pray to these people for help. 

Kind of creepy isn't it? But it was SO cool! 

In the Ukrainian Orthodox church women have to have their heads covered.. along with their bums. SO this was my getup all throughout the Lavra, with my hood on and my scarf wrapped around my legs. At least it was warm! I am also holding my candle in this picture, there was next to no electricity down in the caves. It was tiny, compact, dark, and we only had our little candles with all these tombs surrounding us. It was really beyond amazing, I guess I can't really put it into words. 

I know I look a bit ridiculous..

For the conclusion of the day we went to get the "best hot chocolate in Kiev," I really have no doubt that it was.. they practically melted chocolate and put it into cups with cinnamon sticks. 

Still know I look ridiculous..