Dormition Cathedral, Kyiv, Ukraine

Built in the 11th century, the main church of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery was destroyed during the World War II, a couple of months after the Nazi Germany troops occupied the city of Kyiv and the controversial 1941 Khreshchatyk explosions that destroyed the city's main street. According to the Soviet authorities, the church was destroyed by the advancing German troops, while at the same time German authorities put the blame on the withdrawing Soviet troops who practiced the tactics of scorched earth and blew up all the Kyiv bridges over Dnieper as well as being accused in the 1941 Khreshchatyk explosions.

In 1928, the monastery was converted into a museum park by the Soviet authorities and after its return no efforts were provided to restore the church. The temple was finally restored in 1995 after Ukraine obtained its independence and the construction was accomplished in two years. The new Dormition Church was consecrated in 2000.

User Reviews

Pavlo Melnyk (6 years ago)
Wonderful cathedral with enormous iconostasis. Great impression!

Shyam Sundar (6 years ago)
Mesmerising to see the architectural wonder of 17th century. Marvellous civil structural engineering is evident from the material (brick and mortar) used from its geometric arrangement. The descriptive relic on the wall is a treat to eyes.

Robert Cooke (6 years ago)
Nice cathedral that has quite an interesting history. I assumed it was pretty old but because of the many wars only rebuilt in last few decades. Impressive stuff.

Brett Chatfield (7 years ago)
Beautiful experience and Cathedral. Something you really need to see in person to appreciate.

jacky chan (7 years ago)
Feel Impressive to see such luxurious cathedral! "Kiev Pechersk Lavra or Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Ukrainian: Києво-Печерська лавра: Kyievo-Pechers'ka lavra, Russian: Киeво-Печерская лавра: Kievo-Pecherskaya lavra), also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev." Wiki

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Infomastern

Historic Site of the week

Visby Cathedral

Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Dormition Cathedral

Address

Details

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Visby Cathedral