Kiev Favorites

Favorite thing: The cathedral wasn't be heated till XIX century. Thus in 1720 the so named warm Sofiya was built. It is the church to the left from the cathedral if you go from the bell tower. The right name of the church is Church of Our Lord's Birth.

Favorite thing: Bell Tower was built in XVII century and then renovated in 1740 and 1852. On the second floor you may see the bell of XVIII century with 800 poods weight (28.8 tons). It is possible to climb up and I recommend you to do it to enjoy views of surroundings.

Favorite thing: To visit the cathedral is the must!! You may enjoy iconostasis, architecture as well as wonderful mosaics and frescoes. Besides you may see the ancient graves of the first Russian Princes. Since 1990 Sofiya Cathedral is on the geritage list of UNESCO.

Favorite thing: The golden age of the cathedral was XVIII century when the monastery was founded here. There were several times when it wasn't destroyed. In 1812 the Tsar family wrote the letter to Napoleon to save the cathedral from destroying. In 1920 the cathedral was on list of blowing objects but survived again. At last in 1941-1943 German troops didn't damage it too. Looks like here is real saint things around.

Favorite thing: After Tatar invasion the cathedral stayed without any restoring works long time and only in 1596 the cathedral was used by Unitas. But in 1633 Petr Mogila got control under the cathedral and made a lot of restoration works. The present view the cathedral has reconstruction of 1740.

Favorite thing: There is legend that Tatars wished to destroy the cathedral. They stayed around the cathedral and some warriors fighted fired arrows. But the arrows didn't achieve the cathedral walls but like boomerang returned to the warriors and killed them. So other warriors were in shock and denied to fire or to destroy the cathedral.

Favorite thing: Sofiysky Cathedral was founded in 1037 by Yaroslav Mudry. The cathedral, in my opinion, is a little copy (at least inside) of Aya Sofya in Istanbul, that was Orthodox Cathedral till XV century. XII-XIII centuries were not good for the cathedral. First it was pillaged by the Slavic troops from the North (it was time when different Russain Princes were at war between them). Then it was pillaged by Tatar troops that came to Kiev in 1240.

Favorite thing: In the place where the complex is situated, in accordance with legend, Yaroslav Mudry had a victory in the battle in XI century. In honour of the event he ordered to build Cathedral to Sofiya of Vizantia. In XVII century the cathedral was the center of the monastery. Since 1930 the complex is a museum. The complex is situated in Sofiyskaya Square between Golden Gate and Mikhaiovsky Monastery areas. The entrance fee is UAH 2 (EUR 0.3). Besides you pay for entrance to the cathedral UAH 12 (EUR 1.7) and for climbing up to the bell tower UAH 10 (EUR 1.45). Photos on the complex territory is available but forbidden inside the cathedral.