Holosiivska Pustyn: Petro Mohyla's Forest Monastery In Kyiv — History And Guide • Monasteries, Monasteries: Kyiv And Kyiv Oblast

Holosiivska Pustyn (officially the Holy Protection Holosiiv Men’s Monastery) is an Orthodox men’s monastery in the wooded Holosiiv massif in the south of Kyiv. Founded in 1631 by Metropolitan Petro Mohyla as a hermitage and summer residence of the Kyiv metropolitans, it was a spiritual centre on the hills of the Holosiiv Forest for several centuries. Closed in 1927, pulled down board by board in the 1950s–1960s, it was revived in 1993. Today it is one of the most active men’s monasteries of the capital. [1][2][4]

At a glance

Full name: Holy Protection (Pokrovskyi) Holosiiv Men’s Monastery, “Holosiivska Pustyn”.
Location: Kyiv, Holosiiv, on the territory of the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park.
Founded: 1631 by Metropolitan Petro Mohyla of Kyiv (then Archimandrite of the Kyiv Caves Lavra).
Main landmarks: the masonry Church of the Protection of the Mother of God (1846), the metropolitan’s house, the wooden church, the bell tower; springs and nature trails of the park around.
Feature: the summer residence of the Kyiv metropolitans; the resting place of Saints Parthenius of Kyiv and Alexis of Holosiiv.
Status: an active men’s monastery.

History of Holosiivska Pustyn

1631: Petro Mohyla’s hermitage

Holosiivska Pustyn (“pustyn” means a small secluded hermitage) appeared on a Lavra farmstead eight versts from Kyiv, amid wooded hills later called Holosiiv. The first written evidence is the construction in 1631 of the Church of St John of Suceava, the heavenly patron of Moldavia, Petro Mohyla’s homeland. In the words of Maksym Berlinskyi (“History of the City of Kyiv”, 1799), the hermitage arose “on the site of the former so-called Huliatsiiev farmstead”. [1][2][7]

Petro Mohyla liked to spend the summer months here — “to heal and strengthen the soul with prayer and silence, and to ask for the help of the patron of my homeland”. After the metropolitan’s death the churches of St Barlaam and St Joasaph were added — his beloved saints. A record survives that Empress Elizabeth Petrovna donated 600 roubles to the needs of the hermitage. [1][3]

18th–19th centuries: from decline to masonry churches

After the secularization of church lands in 1786 the hermitage declined somewhat, yet building continued. In the 19th century Metropolitan Filaret (Amfiteatrov) of Kyiv built two masonry churches here: the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God with side altars of Hieromartyr John of Suceava and the Three Hierarchs (1846), and the metropolitan’s house. [4][6]

The hermitage became the resting place of two saints: Parthenius of Kyiv (in the world Petro Krasnopevtsev; reposed 1855) and Alexis of Holosiiv (in the world Volodymyr Shepeliev; reposed 11 March 1917) — spiritual fathers renowned for the grace of healing and clairvoyance. [4]

Soviet rule: from confiscation to demolition

In 1918 the monastery was looted, and in 1919 it passed under the municipal services of the Kyiv city executive committee. In 1922–1923 it was handed over to the Agricultural Academy (today the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine), built in 1925–1932 on the former monastery lands. On 19 July 1927 the hermitage was finally dissolved. [3][6]

In the 1950s–1960s all the monastery’s buildings (except the metropolitan’s house) were dismantled “as having no artistic value”. Meanwhile, on the neighbouring grounds, the Alley of Glory of the agricultural university was laid out, with a sapling of the unique Zaporizhzhia Oak — one of the oldest trees of Ukraine. [5][8]

The 1990s revival

In 1991 the hermitage was returned to the church community; on 7 March 1993 the Synod blessed the opening of the men’s monastery “Holy Protection Holosiivska Pustyn”. In 1997–1998 a project to restore the ensemble was developed, and construction has continued since: new cells, a guest house, a bell tower and churches have risen; the surviving parts of the old metropolitan’s house have been restored. The modern monastery actively welcomes pilgrims, celebrates the liturgy daily, and is the gateway to the living springs of Holosiiv. [4][5]

Shrines and springs

Church of the Protection of the Mother of God (1846) — the main masonry church; holds the relics of Saints Parthenius and Alexis.
Wooden church — on the site of the first church of St John of Suceava.
Holosiiv springs — arranged chapel-springs, venerated by pilgrims for healing.
Metropolitan’s house — a partly authentic 19th-century building, the only one to survive the Soviet era.
Cell garden — the monks’ quarters around the central churches.

Holosiiv remains a nature park: beside the monastery lie forest lakes, walking trails, the 1941 defensive trenches and modern memorials. It is a unique meeting point of nature, pilgrimage and city recreation. [5][8]

Practical information for pilgrims

Address: 14 Polkovnyka Zatievakhina St., Kyiv (by the Holosiivskyi National Nature Park).
Getting there: Ipodrom or Vystavkovyi Tsentr metro stations, then by transport or on foot into Holosiiv; public transport stops nearby.
Services: an active men’s monastery; the main feast is the Protection of the Mother of God, 14 October.
Nature: the monastery is set in a forest massif; nearby are the springs and trails of the national park.
Schedule: the current service schedule is announced by the monastery; the park grounds are open for walks.
Dress code: comfortable shoes for the forest; modest dress.

FAQ

Who founded Holosiivska Pustyn?

In 1631, Metropolitan Petro Mohyla of Kyiv — then Archimandrite of the Kyiv Caves Lavra; he built the church of St John of Suceava. [1][2]

Why is it called a “pustyn” (hermitage)?

Because it began as a small skete on secluded wooded hills; its role as the metropolitans’ summer residence fixed the name. [4][6]

Which saints rest at Holosiiv?

Parthenius of Kyiv (reposed 1855) and Alexis of Holosiiv (reposed 1917) — renowned healers and spiritual fathers of the 19th–20th centuries. [4]

What happened to the monastery in Soviet times?

It was dissolved on 19 July 1927; the buildings went to the Agricultural Academy; in the 1950s–1960s nearly everything was demolished. [3][6]

Is it an active monastery?

Yes: revived in 1993 as a men’s monastery; today it functions, is being rebuilt, and receives pilgrims. [4][5]

Conclusion

Holosiivska Pustyn is Kyiv embraced by forest: the place where Petro Mohyla sought peace, where Elizabeth Petrovna sent her roubles, and where modern pilgrims rediscover prayer and hope. Revived after complete Soviet demolition, the monastery proves that every ruin can be answered with resurrection. [4][6]

Holosiivska Pustyn: Petro Mohyla’s forest monastery in Kyiv — history and guide