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This was the first monument in Kiev. It was erected in 1802 by A.Melensky to honour the confirmation by Tsar Alexander I of the Magdeburg Right for the Kievans. The base of the column contained the “Khreshchatisky source” – a small basin filled with water from underground springs. This monument is also called “the monument to the Christening of Rus” as it stands more or less at the same place where Vladimir christened his sons.
Sticking back to the history, the idea to construct the St. Andrew’s church came to Empress Elizabeth, who visited Kiev in 1744, and with her own hand she laid the first stone of the future church. Now the monogram of the sovereign is inscribed on the frontons of Saint Andrew’s Church. The chief-architect of the court was Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who was known for numerous constructions in the baroque style – grandiose palaces and churches in Saint …
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is the oldest Orthodox monastery of Rus and Ukraine. Its founder was a monk Anthony of Lubech, who took his monastiс vows on Mount Athos. He came to Kiev to spread monasticism in Rus and dwelled in a cave above the Dnypro. One of Anthony’s first diciples, Theodosius, became the co-founder of the monastery. At first the cenobities lived in caves and prayed in underground temples. Later on surface structures were built. Prince …
Among all conserved architectural monuments the world famous St. Sophia of Kyiv is the most ancient through Eastern Europe. Based on the Byzantine traditions the work of artists, who has raised this cathedral and decorated its walls with mosaics and frescoes, with its perfection and beauty impresses everyone who crosses the threshold of St. Sophia. Within the walls of this temple the first generation of Kyiv builders and painters has been …
The synagogue, designed by Vladislav Gorodetsky, was built from 1898 to 1902 in the Moorish style. The building was defiled during the World War II by Nazis. Probably at this time it lost the dome which was part of the original structure. During the Soviet times a contemporary wing was added to the building and it was converted into the Ukrainian House of Actors, remaining as such today. Unlike most of the other synagogues in Ukraine it was not …
Back in 11th century St. Demetrius’s Monastery stood here. It was founded by Prince Isyaslav of Kiev (Christian name – Demetrius). In July 1108 his son Sviatopolk (Christian name – Michael) started to bulid the stone St. Michael’s church inside the monastery built by his father. The dome was plated with gold, and the new cathedral became known as the St. Michael’s Monastery of the Golden Domes. By the middle of the 18th century and after numerous …
Prince Vsevolod (Christian name – Cyril) Olgovich of Chernigov, who occupied Kiev in 1139, founded a monastery in a northern suburb of the city named after his heavenly protector St. Cyril of Alexandria. In the second half of 12th century Princess Maria built here the stone Church os St. Cyril, which became the family chapel and housed the family sepulcher. About 800sq. meters of fresco paintings from the 12th century have been preserved. Part of …
Vydubitsky Monastery was founded by Prince Vsevolod, the son of Prince Yaroslav the Wise and father of Vladimir Monomakh, between 1070 and 1077. The monastery controlled the ferry across the Dnipro River. Many of the best scholars of Kievan- Rus lived and worked in the monastery. Among them, chroniclers Sylvester and Moisey, made a great contribution to writing ‘The Story of Bygone Years’. Only a few churches of this monastery have survived over …
Desiatynnaya Chruch was considered to be one of the most important constructions for Ukrainian history. It was the place where the first stone church in Rus was built (989-996). Builders were summoned from Byzantium for the construction. On the day of the ceremonial consecration of the cathedral, Prince Vladimir promised to give a tithe of his income for its needs. That is the origin of the name of the cathedral. The building also housed the …
This temple can easily be recognized among all the other churches of Kyiv. Being reconstructed in the style of ancient Kyiv architecture, it looks very different and unusual.
