Lavra means a monastic society of the most influential men in the church. Ukraine's three Lavra monasteries are the Kyiv-Pechersk (Caves) Lavra which were accorded this status back in 1598; Pochaiv Lavra in Ternopil region, which was honoured in 1833; and Sviatohirska Lavra in Donetsk region, which is the latest holy place to join the ranks, gaining this elite status in 2004.