Did you know that:

Metropolitan Residence of Kyiv-Pechersk Monastery served as the hotel for the imperial guests. The first person among the Russian emperors who lived in Lavra or on the territory of Pechersk town during his visit to Kyiv was Petro I. Despite the widespread city legend that the tsar allegedly chose the small house in Podil in 1706 that then became known as the “House of Petro I”, the place of the real imperial residence was different. It was located in the house of archimandrites and metropolitans in Pechersk Monastery. It was there where Empress Yelizaveta settled in 1744 following the recommendation of Archimandrite Tymothy (Scherbatsky).  Other crowned personalities, such as Kateryna II, Pavlo I, Mykola I, Oleksandr II and Oleksandr III, lived in Mariyinsky Palace in Pechersk.
Oleksandr III also put up at at the palace of the Governor-General of Kyiv, in Lypky. Oleksandr I did not want to stop in Mariyinsky Palace. Instead, he used to book a room in “Obolensky House”.

Though there existed different places in Kyiv where the emperors of the Romanov’s family could settle for the rest after the long journey, they, in any case, gave preference to Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. The monastery was widely used for solemn events, holiday services etc. Some of the monarchs visited Kyiv several times.
Petro I came back to the city three times while Mykola I did it far more often. He made as many as 15 visits to Kyiv.

Captions to illustrations:

1. Interior of Metropolitan Residence. Photo of the early 20th century.