Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky

Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky (before 1943 just Pereyaslav) is one of the oldest towns of the Kyiv region. In 907 A.D. Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky was first mentioned in chronicles as on of three biggest cities of the Kyiv Rus. It was a well fortified fortress on the southern border of Kyiv Rus and a powerful industrial and trade center. In the XII century, Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky became a capital of a big local principality which determined its further role in the Ukrainian history.

When the Kyiv Rus adopted Christianity (in 988 A.D.), Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky became a religious center of the eparchy. First stone churches in the Kyiv Rus were built here as well. In 1239, the city was completely destroyed by Mongols. It took 200 years to bring it back to life again. But in 1482 Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky was devastated again by a Crimean khan Mengli-Gerey.

In the middle of the XVII century, Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky was involved into another significant for Ukraine event: on January, 8, 1654, there was concluded the Pereyaslav-Moscow Agreement (Union) between the Ukrainian hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky and the Russian tsar Aleksey, which changed the course of history for Ukraine for centuries.

Novadays, Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky is a modern city which is carefully preserving its glorious cultural heritage. It may offer many interesting monuments of architecture — the Church of the Redeemer (11th — 12th centuries), St. Michael's Church (17th century), and the Cathedral of the Ascension (17th — 18th centuries). In 1964, in Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky was founded the Museum of Folk Architecture (now it’s the Ethnography Preserve “Khmelnistky”), which is very popular among numerous tourists coming here. Moreover, this small city hosts more than 20 different museums, which is an absolute record for Ukraine, considering that it population is only about 30 thousand people.

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