Vydubychi Monastery

Kyiv, Ukraine

Vydubychi Monastery is an historic monastery in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The monastery was established between 1070 and 1077 by Vsevolod, son of Yaroslav the Wise. It was a family cloister of Vsevolod's son Vladimir Monomakh and his descendants.

The legend has it that Vladimir ordered the wooden figures of Perun (the Thunder God) and other pagan gods dumped into the Dnieper River during the mass Baptism of Kyiv. The disheartened Kyivans, though accepting the baptism, ran along the Dnieper River calling for the old gods to emerge from water.

The monastery was continuously protected by Ukraine's hetmans and aristocratic families. Hetman Ivan Mazepa in 1695 forbade the Vydubytskyi Monastery's neighbors and placed it under the guard of Starodub Regiment Col. Mykhailo Myklashevskyi, who established the Baroque-style Church of St. George and new Transfiguration Refectory. Hetman Danylo Apostol subsidised construction of the monastery's bell tower. In the 18th century the help of Hetman Kyrylo Rozumovsky's ensured the new properties for the Vydubychi.

Since the late 1990s, the monastery is administered by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate. The Vydubychi Church Choir was among the first choirs in newly independent Ukraine to reinstate singing of the Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian language.

Buildings and structures

Only a few churches of this monastery have survived over the centuries. One of these is the Collegiate Church of Saint Michael, which was built on behest of Vsevolod I and partly reconstructed between 1766 and 1769 by Russian architect M. I. Yurasov. The Ukrainian baroque structures include the magnificent 5-domed St. George Cathedral, Transfiguration of the Saviour Church and refectory, all dating from 1696-1701. A belltower, commissioned by the Hetman Danylo Apostol, was erected in 1727-33 and built up in 1827-31.

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Details

Founded: 1070-1077
Category: Religious sites in Ukraine

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.9/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Діана Гринюк (3 years ago)
Unreal energy reigns in this holy place!
Olena Korbut (4 years ago)
It is one of my favorite places in the city. It has very beautiful territory with a lot of different plants. Like a botanical garden. I feel comfortable and peaceful there.❤?
halil durmaz (Khalil) (4 years ago)
Peaceful and quiet place .inside big park area and beside botanic park .you must see in Kiev .
Pawel Romanowski (4 years ago)
Quiet and peaceful place. Very beautiful Orthodox monastery. Here is the second entrance to the botanical garden. Attention it's hard to get there without a car or taxi. There is a minibus 193, this is the only city transport that I know of that can get there.
Fynn Jackson (6 years ago)
Favorite place in Kiev. Less tourists, beautiful rose gardens and greate feelings all around this one. A definite must see. Note it takes about 15 minutes walk from the botanical garden entrance. You'll receive a map after purchasing a ticket with directions. Enjoy!
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