Kinek Mondjam El Vétkeimet (Who can I tell my sins to?) (1994) 

Kiss this Hungarian in Kyiv and never fancy a woman again! 

EUROVISION COUNTRY: Hungary
KYIV DESTINATIONS: The Lavra Monastery Complex and the Near Caves, Kyiv's Valley of the Kings

The Lavra monastery complex is recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO. It is the epicentre of religion for Ukraine, Russia and the eastern orthodox world.

It combines two religious complexes. On the top of the hill is a series of churches and ecclesiastical buildings. Further down the hill is a separate site which is the orthodox churche's equivalent to the Valley of the Kings - the far and the near caves. Our Hungarian link is set in the caves.

The upper complex starts with a beautiful 16th century entrance gate which leads you into a long drive, flanked by one storey buildings. Each door in these buildings is part of a museum on the history of the site and entrance to them is included in the entry ticket.

The drive leads you to the bell tower and main cathedral.  It looks in good condition because it is mainly reconstructed

Much of this site was destroyed in the second world war. There are various alley ways that you can explore around the site, many have icon shops, art shops and souvenir or craft shops and stalls tucked away.

To the side of the cathedral there is a refectory. Outside there are two sets of graves. The only ones outdoors on the whole site. Both relate to Russian history. The black marble cross is the grave of Stolypin - the Prime Minister of Russia who was murdered at Kyiv opera house in 1911.

The other three graves are of Cossack leaders who Peter the Great had hung. They informed Peter that the leader of the Ukrainian cossacks at the time - Mazepa - was about to side with the Swedes, and he hung them for disloyalty. Mazepa indeed turned away from Russia, but was crushed as a result, and Ukraine became a Russian region. The three cossacks' bodies were exhumed and given a more fitting final resting place.

This Russian historical link is very relevant today, with the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. That is because much to the irritation of Ukraine the Lavra is controlled and administered from Moscow. http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/04/28/how-the-moscow-patriarchate-is-creating-a-separatist-lavra-republic-in-kyiv/   The orthodox church is very much split at the moment, with one branch loyal to Moscow and one branch loyal to Kyiv. So this important site in Ukraine is not as frequently visited by Ukrainians as you would expect.

On to our Hungarian connection. The lower section of the complex sits down a steep cobbled road and outside the Lavra walls. Here there are two churches and each sits on top of its own catacomb system.

The first entrance (shown above) is logically called the near caves.  The systems are several hundred metres long each. Their atmospheres are said to have special qualities in preserving bodies.

And it is here that St. Moses the Hungarian was buried in 1046. His full story can be found here: https://oca.org/saints/lives/2014/07/26/102095-venerable-moses-the-hungarian-of-the-kiev-near-caves. But in short he was a religious man who was captured and then bought by a woman who had amorous intentions. He was not interested and escaped to Kyiv where he set up a small religious order. It is said that his followers, who kiss his tomb never lust after women again.

Before you enter the caves buy a beeswax candle. There are no lights, and very often there will be people making pilgrimages in the narrow tunnels that were dug out by the hands of monks.
The catacombs are now a historical underground cemetery. However there was a time when some monks dug out a cell and then bricked themselves up inside. They were provided food and water through a small hole. They would put a vessel outside of the hole  if they wanted water. If the vessel had not been seen for over a month it was assumed they had died and the hole was bricked up for good.

The people buried here are some of the most famous historical figures of the 10th and 11th century, and many orthodox saints. The bodies are covered in heavily-embroidered shrouds and lie in glass caskets. The faithful take a particular route, pray cross themselves and kiss the glass coffin lids.

This is a deeply spiritual place, therefore women must wear a headscarf when the enter, and men should be dressed respectfully.
Hungarian Restaurant
Kyiv also has a Hungarian restaurant called Ugorskiy Dim, Magyar House on 111 Velika Vasilkivska St. https://www.magyarhaz.com.ua
Hungarian embassy:
Address:                    33, Reitarska St, 01901 Kyiv
Tel:                            +380 44 230 8001
Website:                     https://hungaria-kiev.embassytools.com
What other Hungarian connections are there with Kyiv?