Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine and one of the oldest and largest cities in Europe. The city is more than 1500 years old, and its population is said to be approaching 4 million.

St. Sophia Cathedral

Constructed between 1017 and 1031, St. Sophia Cathedral is the oldest standing church in Kyiv, and one of the best known landmarks in the city. The structure’s golden domes and 76-m tall bell tower are 18^th century Baroque additions. Originally the Cathedral was a burial place of the Kyievan rulers, although only Yaroslav the Wise’s grave has been preserved until this time.

St. Sophia Cathedral

The Kyievo-Pecherska Lavra (Monastery)

The Monastery was founded in the early 11^th century, when the first monks settled in the mount caves overlooking the Dnieper River. Very soon the hermitage developed into a monastery, which became one of the most significant spiritual and cultural centers of Eastern Europe.

The Lavra attracts scores of pilgrims and tourists, who come here from all over Ukraine and abroad. It houses more than 100 relics of the past, including gold-domed belfries and cathedrals, the monastery structures, and the cave system which stretches for hundreds of meters. The underground labyrinths of the Far and Near Caves, lined with mummified monks in glass cases, are both exotic and intriguing.

Cathedral of the Dormition

St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kyievo-Pecherska Lavra have been recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

St. Michael’s Gold-Domed Cathedral/Monastery

Originally built in 1108-1113 by the Kyievan Prince Svyatopolk, the Cathedral was demolished by the Soviet authorities in the 1930s. The Cathedral and the monastery were restored in 1997-2000. Today they are among the most frequently visited places of interest in Kyiv.

St. Michael’s Gold-Domed Cathedral

 St. Andrew’s Church and Andriyivsky Uzviz

The Church was built in 1753 on the order of the Russian Empress Elizabeth. The famous Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli supervised the construction (he also designed the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg). This magnificent five-domed Baroque church sitting on top of a hill overlooking the city is currently one of four architectural landmarks of Ukraine which are on the List of Mankind Treasures of Five Continents.

Andriyivsky Uzviz (Andrew’s Descent) is a charming crooked narrow street with numerous souvenir stalls and small art galleries frequented by tourists all the year round.

St. Andrew’s Church

All photos are the original work of
Jonathan Halcovage and Oleksandr Olesnevych