St Volodymyr's Cathedral
St Volodymyr's Cathedral | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate |
Rite | Byzantine Rite |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | Kyiv, Ukraine |
Geographic coordinates | 50°26′41″N 30°30′32″E / 50.44472°N 30.50889°E |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Alexander Vikentievich Beretti |
Type | cathedral |
Style | neo-Byzantine style |
Completed | 1862–1882 |
Specifications | |
Dome(s) | seven |
Dome height (outer) | 49 m (161 ft) |
Materials | Brick |
St Volodymyr's Cathedral (Ukrainian: Володимирський собор) is a cathedral in the centre of Kyiv. It is one of the city's major landmarks and was the mother cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate before the Unification council of the Eastern Orthodox churches of Ukraine.
History and description
In 1852,
The colourful interior of the cathedral is particularly striking. Its mosaics were executed by masters from Venice. The frescoes were created under the guidance of Professor Adrian Prakhov by a group of famous painters: Wilhelm Kotarbiński, Mikhail Nesterov, Mykola Pymonenko, Pavel Svedomsky, Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Vrubel, Viktor Zamyraylo (1868–1939), and others. The painting of the Holy Mother of God by Vasnetsov in the altar apse of the cathedral impresses by its austere beauty.[citation needed]
The entrance door is adorned with relief bronze sculptures of Olha of Kyiv by sculptor Robert Bakh and St. Volodymyr (sculptor H. Zaieman) against a blue background. The iconostasis is carved from the white marble brought from Carrara. The cathedral was completed in 1882, however, the paintings were fully completed only in 1896.[1]
The cathedral risked damage during the Polish–Soviet War in 1920.[2] During the Soviet period, the cathedral narrowly escaped demolition, but not closure. Until the Second World War, it served as a museum of religion and atheism. The relics of Saint Barbara, a martyr of the 3rd century AD, were transferred to St Volodymyr's from the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery before it was destroyed by the Bolsheviks,[3] and have remained there since.
After the war, the cathedral was reopened and has since remained continually open. It was then the main church of the Kyiv
After the
Spiritual leaders of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate continue to conduct religious services and prayers in St. Volodymyr's Cathedral. All the ceremonies are conducted in Ukrainian, accompanied during religious holidays by the Cathedral choir, which is often joined by opera singers[citation needed].
Works by Viktor Vasnetsov in the Cathedral
-
Russian Bishops
-
The Temptation
-
TheBaptism of Kyivans.
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Icon of Saint Olga, later destroyed by the Bolsheviks
See also
- History of Christianity in Ukraine
- St Volodymyr's Cathedral ownership controversy
References
- ^ "Ukraine Gateway". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ "Postal Telegram No. 2886-a - the War on Poland: The Military Writings and Speeches of Leon Trotsky: Volume 3". Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2006-03-04.
- ^ St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral
External links
- History of Saint Volodymyr Cathedral, Kiev History website (in English)
- (in Ukrainian) Official website
- (in Russian) Sobory.ru — information about the cathedral
- ukraine-gateway.org.ua — St. Volodymyr's (Volodymyrsky) Cathedral
- (in Ukrainian) Володимирський собор Archived 2007-11-02 at the Wayback Machine in Wiki-Encyclopedia Kyiv
- ukraine-today.com — St Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv
- Houses of Worship in Kyiv
- [1] Encyclopedia of Ukraine, St Volodymyr's Cathedral, Kyiv
- St Volodymyr's Cathedral interior panorama