the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a symbol of Prehistoric Russian spiritual cultural history, caught fire.

Four people were killed while the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery, a symbol of Unesco spiritual and cultural history, caught fire, in the heaviest Russian air attack on the Ukrainian capital in two weeks, authorities said on Monday.

I feel this is one of the worst things these countries can do to each other. They all gone nuts. This was one of the most historical religious centers in Kiev, with underground secret caves of prehistoric Russian’s royals and saints. Destruction of places like this one of the harshest future spiritual punishments. Feels horrible to see it on fire. I took these in Kiev in November 2011. This is the same church. This was the place connected to botanical gardens on the other side and place where everyone simply comes to rest. I was always walking at night in the church park and plaza. Such an amazing historic place. During the full moons this is the most inspiring spiritual place to visit to meditate.

Founded in 1051, the monastery houses and originated seminal texts that shaped Eastern European, Russian and Ukrainian spiritual identity. Key historical scriptures and texts associated with the Lavra include:

1. The Kyiv Cave Patericon (Pecherskyi Paterikon). This is the most famous original literary monument produced by the Lavra's monks (compiled by Nestor, Simon, and Polikarp) in the early 13th century. It is a collection of legends, epistles, and biographies of the early monastic fathers. Often referred to as the "gold book" of Ukrainian written literature, it provided foundational historical records of the region.

2. The Primary ChronicleThough maintained continuously by early monks such as Hilarion and Nestor, it is one of the most critical historical texts of Kyivan Rus. The manuscript offers foundational accounts detailing the monastery's founding (1051 or 1074) and the Christianization of the region.

3. The Lavra Printing Press and Early PrintsBetween 1606 and 1615, a prominent printing press was established at the Lavra by Archimandrite Yelysei Pletenetsky. It became the most vital center for printing in Ukraine, defending Orthodoxy through hagiographies and polemical treatises.The Horologion (1616): The oldest known book printed directly at the Lavra.Printed Calendars (ca. 1628): Early calendars detailing monthly saints, well-documented in world collections.

4. The Museum of Books and Printing of Ukraine. Located on the grounds of the Lavra, this institution is housed in the ancient monastery printing house. It contains over 800 early printed books, European incunabula, and facsimiles of highly revered ancient manuscripts, including:The Peresopnytsia Gospel (1556–1561): The first Gospel translated into the living Ukrainian language.The Ostromir Gospels (1056–1057): One of the oldest surviving East Slavic manuscripts.The Reims Gospel (11th Century): The famous liturgical text used by French kings.The Anthologies of Sviatoslav (1073): One of the oldest surviving East Slavic manuscripts.