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SVIATO-POKROVSKA GOLOSIIVSKA PUSTYN
In the depths of an ancient forest park, in a picturesque district of Kyiv, lies a unique shrine — the Holy Protection Holosiiv Hermitage. Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come here to feel the special grace and spiritual silence of this place.
The origin of the name “Holosiiv” is not precisely known. There are two main theories. According to the first, in the early 18th century, a park was sown on a “bare” land, which later received the name “Holosiiv.” The second theory links the name to the word “holosity” (to wail): supposedly, women came here to mourn their husbands killed during the Tatar-Mongol raids.
Back in the 17th century, the area was favored by Saint Petro Mohyla. After purchasing a part of the land, he built a small church in honor of Saint John of Suceava and several monastic cells. This step marked the beginning of the history of the Holy Protection Holosiiv Hermitage. The saint donated to the church a reliquary cross containing relics of unknown saints and fragments of Saint John the New — a relic passed down through Petro Mohyla’s family from generation to generation.
Later, a skete of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was established on the territory of the hermitage as a summer residence of the Metropolitan of Kyiv. Initially, it bore the same name as the church — Saint John the New, but later it received a new name — Holosiiv Hermitage.
The monastery flourished during the time of Metropolitan Yevheniy of Kyiv (Bolkhovitinov) and Saint Filaret (Amphiteatrov). A major reconstruction was carried out, and the monastery returned to a full spiritual life.
For twenty years, Venerable Alexiy of Holosiiv lived in the hermitage. He is considered the spiritual guardian of the monastery. He possessed the gift of clairvoyance and foretold the death of Emperor Nicholas II.
However, in 1918, with the arrival of the Bolsheviks, hard times began: the monastery was looted, and its buildings were handed over to the Department of Municipal Management. In 1926, the monastery was officially closed, and the churches were neglected.
But in 1979, Blessed Nun Alipia foretold that the Holosiiv Hermitage would be revived. This prophecy came true: in 1993 the skete was restored, and already on June 2 of that year, Archimandrite Isaakiy (Andronik), the skete superior, celebrated the first liturgy in honor of Saint John of Suceava.
In 1996, His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv blessed the establishment of a men’s monastery in honor of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos on the territory of the hermitage.
Today, the Holy Protection Holosiiv Hermitage has been largely restored after the devastation of the 20th century — thanks to the joint efforts of the faithful and the mercy of God.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Brothers and sisters! At this time, visiting the monastery is blessed until 20.30
ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS
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7:00
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First Liturgy
9:00
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Second Liturgy
From the second week of Great Lent, anointing will be held every Monday and Saturday at 9:00 in the "Life-Giving Spring" church.
You can find detailed information about the Holy Intercession Holosiivska hermitage on the official website of the monastery https://goloseevo.com.ua
HEAVENLY PATRONS OF THE MONASTERY AND COLLEGE
NUN ALIPIA
Nun Alipia was born around 1910 (some sources mention 1905 or 1908) in the village of Vishelei, Penza Governorate. At baptism, she received the name Agafia — in honor of the holy martyr whom she considered her heavenly patroness. After the death of her parents in 1917, who were shot by the Red Army, her wandering life began. Agafia lived in monasteries, helped the poor, and prayed a lot. She was imprisoned for 10 years and survived captivity by the Germans during World War II.
At the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, she took monastic vows with the name Alipia. After the Lavra was closed, she settled near the Holosiiv Forest, where she came to be venerated as a great ascetic. Mother Alipia passed away on October 30, 1988.
Blessed Alipia is known for her love, compassion, and prayer through which the Lord granted healing to people. There are numerous testimonies of miraculous help through her prayers — both during her life and after her repose. She had the gift of clairvoyance: she foresaw the Chernobyl disaster, the revival of the Holosiiv Hermitage, and even the day of her own death.
Her relics were transferred to the Holosiiv Monastery in 2006. Her grave became a place of pilgrimage for thousands of believers. In the hearts of many, she remains a living intercessor before God, who does not leave any sincere plea unanswered. With reverence, the faithful still turn to Mother Alipia, feeling her spiritual closeness and merciful love.
More information about the Reverend Mother Alipia at the link https://www.alipiya.com.ua
VENERABLE ALEXIY HOLOSIYVSKYI
Venerable Alexiy (in the world — Volodymyr Ivanovych Shepelyev) was born on April 14, 1840, on Easter, into a noble family. His father served as a major at the Kyiv Arsenal. Even before the boy was born, Archbishop Anthony of Voronezh foretold to his mother: a mute son would be born, but he would become a servant of God. And so it happened — Volodymyr did not speak until the age of 13.
On Easter, Metropolitan Filaret exclaimed three times, “Christ is Risen!” — and the boy responded, “Indeed He is Risen!” After that, he was sent to be raised at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. There he received an excellent spiritual education and grew in the spirit of prayer and mercy.
In 1872, he took monastic vows with the name Alexiy, was ordained a hieromonk, and became a spiritual father. He served at the Lavra for over 38 years, and after a false accusation was transferred to the Holosiiv Hermitage, where he spent another 21 years in ascetic life.
At Holosiiv, the venerable's gift fully manifested: people from all over the Russian Empire came to him. He had the gift of clairvoyance, comforted, guided, and prayed for all. His cell was extremely modest, and his life — ascetic. During the revolutionary events, the venerable warned of terrible times and called for repentance.
The venerable reposed in the Lord on March 11 (24), 1917. He was buried near the church at the Holosiiv Monastery. His relics remain incorrupt and are still kept at the Holosiiv Monastery, granting believers gracious help, consolation, and spiritual strength.
More information about Reverend Alexy Holosiivskyi at the link https://goloseevo.com.ua/aleksiy_golosiyivkiy
VENERABLE IOAN DAMASKIN
Venerable John of Damascus was born around the year 680 in Damascus into a Christian family. His father, Sergius Mansur, was a treasurer at the caliph’s court and took care of the education of his son and an adopted boy named Cosmas by inviting a learned monk to teach them.
John became a high-ranking official in Damascus, but when the heresy of iconoclasm arose in Byzantium, he resolutely defended the holy icons. He wrote three profound treatises, which provoked the anger of Emperor Leo the Isaurian. Through a cunning forgery, the emperor convinced the caliph to order John’s hand to be cut off. The venerable one prayed to the Mother of God, and she miraculously healed him.
After this, John gave away all his possessions and entered the monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in Palestine. There he learned humility through severe trials. He was forbidden to write, sent to sell baskets, and even forced to clean filth. But he endured everything with obedience and love.
Eventually, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared in a vision to John’s spiritual elder, revealing that he was permitted to write again. His works became a great treasure of the Church: canons, hymns, funeral troparia, and theological writings.
The Patriarch of Jerusalem learned about the God-given wisdom of Venerable John of Damascus. He called him, ordained him a priest, and entrusted him with preaching. However, the venerable soon returned to the Lavra of Saint Sabbas, where he spent the rest of his life in fasting, prayer, and the writing of theological works and church hymns. He left the monastery only once — to expose the heresy of iconoclasm at the Council of Constantinople in 754. There he was captured and tortured, but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant. The venerable reposed around the year 780, having reached a very old age — over one hundred years.
