"From 9:00 to 11:00 and by appointment": Ministry of Culture opens Near Caves of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has announced the opening of the Near Caves of the Kyiv Cave Monastery to believers. Access, which has long been the subject of expectations, will be carried out in a controlled manner, requiring pre-registration and the formation of groups.

According to the press service of the ministry, access to the Near Caves will be open from February 25, 2026. It will be possible to visit the shrine from Wednesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 11:00, strictly by appointment and in groups. It is not specified whether access will be paid. From 12:00 to 16:00, guided tours will be held in the caves.

The Ministry of Culture emphasized the significance of the event, stating that «the opening of the Near Caves for believers is not only a long-awaited and significant event in church life, but also a sign of the indestructibility of our faith.»

Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna, commenting on the event, said: «The opening of the Near Caves is a continuation of the cooperation between the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the Reserve and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. We are reviving the route in the caves as it was in the days of Petro Mohyla and Ivan Mazepa, bringing back the tradition of Ukrainian pilgrimage.»

Earlier, we reported that the employees of the «reserve» changed the locks on the doors of the churches in the Kyiv Cave Monastery, blocking access to the monks of the UOC.