lavra

Lavra is a term used in Eastern Orthodox and certain Eastern Catholic churches to designate a large monastery complex that houses multiple monastic communities and is led by a senior monk. The word derives from Greek and historically referred to a group of monk-houses living under a single administration. A lavra differs from smaller monasteries by its scale, organizational structure, and the presence of several independent houses or sketes within its grounds.

Organization and life: Each lavra is typically headed by an archimandrite or igumen and may oversee nearby monasteries or sketes. Monastic life centers on daily liturgy, prayer, manual labor, and study. The complex usually includes a main cathedral or church, additional chapels, and monastic residences, with facilities for pilgrims. As a regional spiritual and administrative hub, a lavra often preserves distinctive liturgical and ascetic traditions and serves as a center for religious education and pilgrim activity.

Notable lavras: Notable examples include the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in Sergiyev Posad, Russia; Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, Ukraine; and Pochaiv Lavra in Pochaiv, Ukraine. These institutions are influential in their respective traditions for worship, scholarship, and the preservation of monastic heritage.

Overall, the lavra represents a historically significant form of monastic life within Orthodoxy, emphasizing communal devotion across multiple monastic cells under a unified leadership.