Dormition Cathedral, Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Ukraine

Dormition Cathedral is the main church of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Ukraine, crowned by seven gilded onion domes, the central one largest and tallest. The pale facade is divided into bays by pilasters and arched windows, framed by paired white columns and cornices, with round medallions and wall paintings of figures in niches.

The cathedral was laid out in 1073 on the initiative of Theodosius of the Caves and built with funds from Prince Sviatoslav Yaroslavich; the Patericon ties its founding to the Varangian Shimon, whose gold belt set its dimensions. It was sacked by Batu's Mongols in 1240 and by Mengli-Giray's Crimean Tatars in 1482, destroyed by fire in 1718 and rebuilt in 1729 in the Ukrainian Baroque style. An explosion on 3 November 1941 left only fragments of the east wall, the altar and two pillars.

Orthodox services follow the Byzantine rite, with worshippers standing during liturgy and lighting candles before icons displayed throughout the interior. The iconostasis separates the sanctuary from the nave, showing religious figures painted according to traditional methods passed down through generations.

Women should bring a headscarf and wear long skirts or trousers, while men need long trousers to enter the building. Visiting outside liturgy hours allows quieter exploration of the interior, though services offer a chance to observe Orthodox ritual in practice.

The Varangian Shimon Afrikanovich donated a gold belt and crown taken from a crucifix, and Prince Sviatoslav used the belt to set the church's dimensions: 20 belts wide, 30 long, 50 high to the top of the walls. Shimon was the first person buried in the completed church, between 1089 and 1091.