Since its foundation, Lviv has been a city where representatives of different religions come together: Orthodox, Greek Catholics, Catholics, believers of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and others. To restore mental equilibrium, communicate in prayer with God, fill one's heart with love, and rethink life, people visit churches and other holy locations.
We have compiled a list of monasteries and spiritual places that are located near Lviv for you.
Holy Dormition Lavra of Univ
This is one of the four Lavras in Ukraine and the only Greek Catholic monastery that has the status of a Lavra, which means the largest and most important monastery. The first mentions of the church appeared in the early 14th century during the time of the Galician-Volhynian Principality, and later it was taken care of by Orthodox Lithuanian princes from the Gediminovich family. Then the monastery was burned by the Tatars, and it was restored by nobleman Oleksandr Vanko Lagodovsky after he was healed from an illness at a spring that is located on the territory of the current church. The period of the monastery's flourishing is closely related to the Sheptytsky family, and Metropolitan Andriy Sheptytsky himself revived monastic life. Here you can find the Univ miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary and a copy of the Shroud of Turin. We recommend visiting the monastery church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the wooden church of the Blessed Clement and Leontius, and climbing up to the Chernycha Mountain, where you can see the foundation of an ancient church and enjoy a beautiful view of the village.
Krehiv Monastery of St. Nicholas of the Basilian Fathers
Krehiv village, Lviv region
The monastery is a national architectural landmark of the 17th-18th centuries. According to its history, it was founded by two monks of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Ioil and Sylvester. The monks came to the Pobiyna mountain and settled in cells, and on the top they built the Chapel of the Protection and the Chapel of Peter and Paul. The rock eventually began to be called Ioil's Rock.
In the 18th century, pilgrims from beyond the Dnipro, Don, Voloshchyna, distant Greece and Crete visited Krehiv. Hetmans Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Petro Doroshenko and Ivan Mazepa, and Metropolitan Petro Mohyla also visited it. Today, Krehiv Monastery is an important Greek Catholic shrine. We recommend taking a walk along the Way of the Cross, which is part of the monastery complex, visiting the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the wooden Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin, the fortification walls, the entrance gate and the bell tower, the healing spring of the Virgin Mary, and the rock-cave complexes. You can also taste the delicacies made by the monks, which can be purchased at the monastery shop.
More about: Temples of (tourist) Lviv
Lavriv Monastery of the Order of the Basilian Fathers
Village of Lavriv, Sambir district
Another one of the Greek-Catholic shrines, which is located in the foothills of the Carpathians amidst picturesque nature. Here lie the relics of St. Onuphrius, which is why it is often called the Monastery of St. Onuphrius. It is believed that the founder of the monastery was the godfather of Prince Lev Danilovych - Voyshelk, Grand Duke of Lithuania, who in his monastic life had the name Lavr. This is mentioned in the charter of Prince Lev in 1292. The church of St. Onuphrius was built with the funds of Prince Lev Danilovych and, according to legend, he was buried here. The Lavriv Monastery is a unique monument of culture and national history, and a sacred center of the Boykivshchyna region. We recommend visiting here to pray to St. Onuphrius and enjoy the picturesque nature.
Pecherskyi Monastery and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Stradch village, Yavoriv district
The picturesque nature, the Pecherskyi Monastery from the 11th to 13th century, and the cave cells have survived to this day since the time of the Galician-Volhynian Principality. According to legends, two monks first settled in a small cave on a hill above the Vereshchytsia River. And over the next centuries, the small cave transformed into a real underground monastery. Currently, there is a pilgrimage center dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Stradch, which is also one of the shrines of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. We recommend visiting the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, walking the Cross Path on Stradch Mountain, and visiting the caves.
Mary Spiritual Center in the locality of Zahlyna
near Monastyrok village, Lviv region
Zahlyna is a place of pilgrimage, known for its miraculous spring where the Mother of God appeared in the 17th century. A statue of the Virgin Mary with a belt in her hands was installed at the site of the apparition. Every year on September 13, the feast of the Deposition of the Belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated here, and believers from all over come to visit. In the distant 15th century, there was a monastery at this site where monks hid from the Tatars. Unfortunately, it was destroyed.
Since 2006, a capsule with earth from Golgotha brought from Jerusalem has been installed near the statue's base. There is a chapel and a bathing pool at the healing spring, with a cross installed in the middle.
We recommend visiting this place for prayer, healing, and restoring spiritual balance. Also, don't miss the ancient bell tower that has remained from ancient times.
Temple in honor of the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of All
Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1 Pylypa Orlyka St, Lviv
This temple is often referred to as the "Lviv Athos" because it houses 30 pieces of relics of saints brought from around the world, including the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. Spyridon the healer, St. Panteleimon the healer, St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle, St. Cyprian, and others. This wooden church was built without a single nail in 2008. The greatest shrine is the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of All, which was consecrated on Mount Athos. People with oncological diseases come to pray before it, and personal items (chains, bracelets, etc.) left behind testify to dozens of healing stories. The temple also houses a unique icon of Jesus Christ with a crown of thorns and closed eyes, brought from the Holy Land. Anyone interested can visit the church and appeal to the saints in their requests. The Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of All is located near the Lviv City Children's Clinical Hospital and the Municipal City Emergency Medical Aid Hospital.
