St. Sophia’s Cathedral

Among the landmarks of Kyiv is St. Sophia’s Cathedral, the oldest surviving monument of Kyivan Rus (Ukrainians call it Sofiyskiy sobor). The cathedral's name comes from another cathedral in Constantinople, but Kyiv’s is much more than an imitation. The Inscription under the image of the Mother of God - “God is in the middle of him (meaning Kyiv), it can’t be shaken, God helps him from the early morning” - deep meaning was put into these words.

“Sophia” in Greek means “Wisdom.” The cathedral was built in 1037-1044 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise to commemorate the victory over the Pechenegs (Asian nomadic tribes) and glorify Christianity. St.Sophia’s Cathedral was different from other ordinary Christian churches in Kyivan Rus. It was a monument to unity among Old Russian’s Nations, political and ideological leadership of Kyiv among all the Russian Land.

Many events in the political and social life of Kyivan Rus were closely associated with St. Sophia. The ceremony of crowning the prince was performed here; it was often used to receive foreign ambassadors and to conclude trade agreements or peace treaties with other principalities. The first mention of the library collected by Yaroslav the Wise was held in the St. Sophia. Both it was the first library, and the first school in Old Rus.

In the eastern part of the north gallery there was a princely burial place. The marble sarcophaguses of Yaroslav the Wise, Vsevolod Yaroslavich, Vladimir Monomachus and other political figures of Old Rus have been stood here.

In the 11th Century St. Sophia’s Cathedral was pink, this is confirmed by uncovered thin brick. It had 13 domes of parabolic forms. The domes were covered with lead. All these made the structure particularly attractive. Thirteen cupolas with drums have been fully preserved until the present time.

In the subsequent years the cathedral was looted and devastated after the raids of the steppe nomads in 1240, but it was still the central church in Kyiv. In the 17th Century new structures of wood were erected in the cathedral courtyard. In the 18th Century, the cathedral was surrounded by an ensemble of stone buildings, Baroque in style, which adorn the city even today.

The St. Sophia’s Cathedral preserved some 260 square meters of mosaics and 3,000 square meters of fresco painting dating the 11th Century. Mosaics belong to the remarkable, monumental ancient art, and the image of the Mother of God is considered as one of the best representations of the Mother of God in the World. Originally mosaics and frescos had a destination to be like “The Bible for illiterate.” At that time Christianity had just started in Rus, and the Church put a lot of meaning into the murals. The fresco paintings in the cathedral made an explanation of Christian teaching.

The fresco paintings in the cathedral towers present unique samples of monumental art and are an important source of information on the historical and cultural ties of Old Rus. The scenes show the various aspects court life, hunting and the flora and fauna of Old Rus.

People call Sophia a “Firm Wall” and there is a legend, saying “God will protect Kyiv until Sophia stands and Maria Orante prays for us.” A 76-meter, three-level belfry built at the end of the 17th Century is the main entrance. The second level of the belfry houses a bell of 13 tons. The essential interior dimensions of the structure (37 x 55 metres; the ceiling is 29 metres high) remain unchanged since ancient time. The architecture St. Sophia’s complex also contains Metropolitan’s House, Heated Sophia, Brotherhood building, Bursa (theological college), Central state Archive-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine, Consistory, Southern entrance tower, Zaborovsky Gate, Cells, Memorable Wall in honor of Library of Yaroslav the Wise.

St. Sophia’s Cathedral and the surrounding 18th Century architectural monuments are of great interest to visitors to Kyiv. From Sophia’s belfry you can observe the majestic panorama of St. Michael’s Monastery of the Golden Domes and the monument to Bohdan Khmelnytsky. This impressive perspective adorns the city since 12th Century.

Location:

24, Vladimirskaya st.

Golden Gate metro station

tel. 228-61-52

Open daily 10am-5 pm, except Thursday.

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