Kholkov Caves

About museum

The Kholkov underground monastery with its mysterious caves is one of the main attractions of the Chernyansky District. The architecture and layout of the Kholkov Caves resemble the famous caves of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. This is a remarkable monument of history and architecture from the early 17th century, first mentioned in 1620. In 1764 the monastery was closed and the entrance to the caves was buried. In the early 1990s the caves were partially restored and opened to visitors. The total area of the caves is 255.5 sq. m, the area of the church is 57.9 sq. m, and the length of the corridors is 125.8 m. The average temperature in the cave is 8–10 degrees Celsius. In 1995 services began to be held in the underground Holy Trinity church, and Kholki began to be visited not only by tourists but also by pilgrims. The complex includes the Church of the Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Kyiv Caves, a bell-tower church in honor of Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, and a church in honor of the Donskoy Icon of the Mother of God, patroness of the Russian armed forces.