Saint Anthony's Caves, Underground monastery in Chernihiv, Ukraine

Saint Anthony's Caves is a cave monastery in the Boldyni Hills of Chernihiv, founded in 1069 by Anthony of the Caves with support from Prince Sviatoslav Yaroslavich. Its galleries, cells and burial niches run about 350 metres at depths of 2 to 12 metres on two main levels. Three brick-lined underground churches from the 17th–18th centuries include the Church of Theodosius of Totma, 15.5 metres long and 8.5 metres high in the narthex.

Anthony of the Caves founded the monastery in 1069 with Prince Sviatoslav of Chernihiv, after leaving Kyiv. The caves were dug as a Theotokos monastery modeled on Kyiv's cave monasteries. In 1239 Mengu Khan's troops destroyed Chernihiv and the caves lay abandoned until the mid-17th century, when Colonel Stepan Podobailo funded restoration.

The caves hold the cell of Anthony of the Caves and a tomb with the remains of monks killed in 1239 during the Mongol invasion. In the 17th–18th centuries the underground churches were lined with brick, and the walls of the lower tier keep late-medieval graffiti left by pilgrims and monks.

The caves remain consistently cool throughout the year, so warm clothing is essential for a comfortable visit. The narrow passages require careful movement, and some areas can be slippery underfoot.

The caves contain inscriptions and religious symbols carved into the walls by monks as marks of their faith. These details are easy to overlook but reveal the personal devotion of those who lived within these chambers.