Ukrainian Guide » Saint Sophia Cathedral

Beautiful Saint Sophia Cathedral

Victoria — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:31:21 +0000

If you only travel to one place in Ukraine, travel to Kiev, and take a look through the multitudes of different buildings and architectural marvels there. One of the simply most breathtaking places is Saint Sophia Cathedral, which, for nothing else, simply hums with spirituality and beauty. Regardless of how your religious beliefs lie, this place is a truly amazing – if a little pricy – architectural marvel.

Much of the original artwork is still exposed and available for the public to view, and what isn’t is being carefully restored and preserved by different restorers. At the risk of making some of these areas seem a little spotty, the ability to see truly original pieces is incredibly moving. You need to make sure that you hire an English guide beforehand, but the actual trip is incredibly moving, making this a must-see spot in Kiev, as well as the rest of Ukraine.

Saint Sophia Cathedral: A beautiful site to see

Victoria — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:48:36 +0000

The last time some friends visited Ukraine, the brought back some great photos of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. This cathedral dates back to 1037 when Prince Yaroslav the Wise laid the foundation and it is definitely a testament to the skill of Ukrainian builders. It has 13 domes – or cupolas as they call them overseas – that dominate the Kiev skyline and the bell tower it the most notable one as it is topped with gold. There are some of the most beautiful 11^th century mosaics and frescoes inside the cathedral and considering all of the turmoil, conflicts and strife the country has seen since 1037, it’s amazing that they are intact.

Unlike most cathedrals found in Europe that are still holding masses as well as being open to public viewing, Saint Sophia’s holds a museum instead that details the cathedrals spiritual and intellectual influence on the region. It tells how the cathedral was an integral part of the spread of the Orthodox faith through Russia from the 17^th to 19^th century. This beautiful building was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990 and it should be included on any trip to Ukraine in order to enjoy some of the best architecture and art work in the country.

Synergy of Styles in Ukrainian Architecture

admin — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 21:23:20 +0000

For every American traveller, the architecture of Ukraine’s old cities should look strikingly ancient and intriguingly sophisticated. The cultural and architectural history of entire Russia, actually, started in Ukraine, when Kiev, the present capital of the country, became the center of the Russian statehood then called the Kievan Rus. Since the 9th century, Ukraine was both developing its own style in construction and absorbing great architectural influences of Byzantine, Greece, and France.

Although most buildings of the early era were constructed out of logs, some churches and palaces incorporated more solid materials, such as stone. The Kievan Rus style in architecture and interior design was influenced by the Byzantine culture and featured complicated mosaic and frescoes decorations and large magnificent constructions. One of the most ancient among grand Ukrainian churches of that period is the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev which was built under the rule of Yaroslav the Wise in the 11th century. Defensive designs of military fortifications, towering castles, and fortified monasteries became a staple of the Ukrainian landscape in the period of the 12th -15th centuries, when the country underwent the Mongol invasion.

Since the 16th century, the Renaissance brought along a new style in architecture, called Baroque, which became popular in big Ukrainian cities, such as L’viv, Chernihiv, and Kiev. The highlights of the Ukraine’s Baroque can still be seen in survived church and monastery constructions of that period, such as the Church of Saint Michael in Kiev that still magnifies the eye with its impressive golden domes. Classicism came into the country in the 18th century, featuring decorative plastering in city palaces and public buildings. The architecture of France largely influenced the construction style in the Eastern parts of Ukraine, which still can be observed in magnificent buildings of old districts of Odessa.

Many stunning examples of Ukrainian architecture have survived numerous political storms, wars, and revolutions sweeping the region for more than a thousand years of its rich history. A variety of foreign styles have successfully merged into authentic Ukrainian architecture and produced an exquisite, blended Ukrainian style incorporating the best of the European cultural traditions.