Did you know that:

Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra was the target of repressions imposed by the Russian tsarist regime during the trial of Tsarevytch Oleksiy Petrovych, the son of Russian tsar Peter I.

During the investigative questioning on “treason issue”, which was held in spring 1718 and connected to the escape of Tsarevych Oleksiy to the Austrian Empire, he said that he considered Prince Dmytro Golitsyn, Kyiv Governor-General, Ioanykiy (Senyutovych), Archimandrite of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and Ioasaph (Krokovsky), Kyiv Metropolitan, to be his friends and allies. As a result, the Commission was sent to Kyiv. Its task was to arrest the Metropolitan and the Archimandrite, and transfer them to St. Petersburg for questioning. Archimandrite Krokovsky, who was old and suffered from hydrocephalus, died on his way to the Northern Capital. He never heard for pardon from the tsar, who eventually changed his mind and decided not to punish the representatives of the Kyiv clergy. To add, Tsarevych mentioned that he allegedly corresponded with the Metropolitan during his stay in Naples. The members of the Commission searched Krokovsky’s personal belongings, which were confiscated from the courtyard of St. Sophia Cathedral, but found nothing that could “compromise” Kyiv Metropolitan.

Captions to the illustrations:

1. Portrait of Tsarevych Oleksiy Petrovych. Author – Christoph Bernhard Francke. The first quarter of the 18th century.

2. Portrait of Ioasaph Krokovsky. Unknown author. The first quarter of the
18th century.