16,951
edits
Changes
m
link
In the mid 1070s the center of the monastery began to move to the area of the present Upper Lavra with the building of the Dormition [[Cathedral]]. In time the Near and Far Caves became places of seclusion for the monks and burial places for the monastery brethren, In 1073, Anthony became the first burial in the Near Caves, followed in 1074 with the burial of Theodosius in the Far Caves.
During the ensuing years the monastery was raided several times. Significant raids included one in 1096 by the Cumans, in 1169 by Andrei Bogoliubsky of Vladimir-Suzdal, and in 1203 by Prince Riuik Rostislavich. In 1240, the invading hordes of the Tatars, led by Baty-Khan, came through Kiev, destroying the city and the monastery. During the times of Tatar occupation the monks moved into the caves, to remain there for a long time. After each raid the churches and buildings would be replaced and the system of underground caves and [[catacombs ]] would be expanded. In 1470 the monastery was rebuilt again by Prince Semen Olelkovich, but was once again destroyed by Tatars in 1482.
From these times until the end of the sixteenth century little documentation remains as historical source material as records were destroyed during each raid. Beginning in the sixteenth century, reports by travelers provide descriptions of the caves and the monastic life then practiced at the monastery. These reports noted the length of the underground caves, whose entries resemble entrances to mines, and which also noted that liturgy was celebrated in the two underground churches every Saturday. By the late sixteenth century the monastery had once again recovered. At this time it was granted [[stavropegial]] status by the Patriarch of Constantinople. This freed the monastery from the control of the metropolitan of Kiev. The monastery was also granted the status of a [[lavra]].
