Cave monastery in Rozhirche

The Cave monastery in Rozhirche consists of three caves carved into a sandstone cliff, arranged across two levels. Ancient stone stairs connect the chambers, which still show evidence of wooden frame supports cut directly into the rock.

Monks fleeing the 13th century Tatar invasion of Kyiv founded this sanctuary in the Carpathian foothills. This remote location allowed the monastic community to survive during a period when many religious sites across the region were destroyed.

The monastery shows how monks lived in these caves through its different chambers. The altar area and living spaces reveal a community focused on prayer and spiritual practice.

The monastery is reached by walking through a narrow forest path that climbs steeply through thick beech and spruce trees. Sturdy shoes and a good pace are necessary as the terrain is uneven and the trail demands steady effort.

One chamber measures around 9 by 7 meters with ceiling heights over 3 meters, which is remarkably spacious given the stone-carving methods available. The monks must have worked with simple tools to create such proportioned rooms within the rock.