Sophia Cathedral Tour
We conduct individual tour around one of the most ancient shrines – St. Sophia Cathedral, which today is referred to as a masterpiece of world significance. During our tour we will talk about the foundtion of the temple, its construction and its significance in the life of the country. We will definitely go inside the cathedral, where we will see unique mosaics and frescoes. We’ll also visit the Metropolitan’s House, where an exposition of the interior of the metropolitan chambers of the 18th-19th centuries is presented. Those who want to see Kyiv from heights, will be able to climb the Sofia bell tower, where an observation deck is open. Duration – 2-3 hours.
MAP OF ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL
MUSEUMS ON THE TERRITORY OF ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL
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- Metropolitan’s Residence Museum
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- “Mosaics and frescoes of the Mykhailivsky Cathedral”
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- “The art of icon painting” exhibition
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- “Cathedral. Old town. State. First stone Christian churches of Kyiv”
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- Observation deck of the bell tower
St. Sophia Cathedral is included in the list of cultural heritage of Ukraine and is a real masterpiece of world art. The magnificent building, erected in the XI century, served as the main cathedral and the center of the main events of the country. Within its walls, anointing of princes, consecration to the metropolitan, meetings with ambassadors, as well as viche were held. Here, the first library was founded, annals were kept, and books were translated.
The cathedral is dedicated to the Wisdom of God – Sofia. An artistic image embodied the multifaceted meaning put in the symbol, which explains the scale and complex architecture of the structure. The interior features a medieval model of the Universe, while the exterior represents an image of the City of God – Heavenly Jerusalem. The value of the cathedral is in its picturesque decor, consisting of a complete ensemble of mosaics (260 m2), frescoes (3 thousand m2) and fragments of mural painting.
The frescoes of Sophia of Kyiv as the primary source of data on the Dutch dynasty are an exceptional collection of paintings from the time of Kyiv Rus. Remains of ancient Rus graffiti became a memo of writing and the most important historical document. Sofia’s mosaics and frescoes are the rarest memorials of monumental art of the Medieval Age, which occupies a significant place in the fund of world culture.
Inside, in the arch of the altar you will Oranta – Our Lady, the image of which is considered to be the highest level piece of mosaic art. The uniqueness of the work is in the fact that Oranta from different angles looks like it is pictured in different poses – standing, bowing in prayer or on her knees. On the central dome, you will see Christ the Almighty and four archangels, one of which is mosaic, the others are oil works (M. Vrubel, XIX century). The walls and columns depict images of saints.
The mosaic is performed on a gold background. It is abundant in colors and rich shades. The color palette is striking in the number of shades used (177!), which confirms a high development of smalt technology in Kyiv Rus. Nowadays, masters using the methods of the XI century are not able to produce such a variety of colors.
Graffiti of St. Sophia Cathedral keeps the knowledge of Kyiv Rus, thus confirming the level of development of writing. So, some writings are made not only in Cyrillic, but also in the Glagolitic alphabet. Some of the significant ones are a record of the death of Yaroslav the Wise, the signature of Vladimir Monomakh and the alphabet. Today, graffiti is considered to be one of the most likely sources of the Old Rus language. The analysis of the inscriptions showed that they are inherent in many features of the modern Ukrainian language.
The territory of Sofia of Kyiv was the burial place for princes and higher clergy. Here were the tombs of Yaroslav the Wise and Vladimir Monomakh, whose marble sarcophagi have survived to this day (other tombs have been lost). This necropolis is the oldest one. It covers the longest period in the history of the state (XI-XX centuries.)
At the brick of the XVII-XVIII centuries the temple was reconstructed, thus adding to the construction characteristic features of Ukrainian baroque. An original view can be seen from the side of the altar, where a initial decor of the facades is partially exposed. At the expense of Hetman Mazepa, a bell tower was erected. Its height is 76 m. The bell from 1705 times has been preserved, which today can be seen on the 2nd tier. This is the largest bell among those preserved in Ukraine. It bears the name of “Mazepa” (weight – 13 tons). Until the mid 1760s a refectory, a bakery, a metropolitan’s house, a south tower, a western gate and other buildings were added.
Since 1934, and until now, Sofia of Kyiv has been a historical and architectural reserve comprising 77 architectural monuments. The museum complex is one of the largest ones in Ukraine, which also includes the main points of the tourist routes of the capital – Golden Gate, St. Cyril and St. Andrew’s Churches. An ensemble of St. Sophia Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The reserve provides sightseeing tours around the territory, as well as thematic tours dedicated to graffiti, painting and the necropolis of St. Sophia. In the south tower, you will see unique authentic mosaics and frescoes of St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral (XII century), preserved after its destruction in 1937. You will also love an excursion to the bell tower, where you will learn about important events that took place near the walls of the church, and also see Kyiv from high up in the sky. A panorama of the Upper City opens from the observation deck.
In addition, the building of the Refectory offers an exhibition on the formation of the state, its heyday, its role in the political life of Europe, and birth of Christianity in Kyiv Rus. In the Refectory, you can see fragments of the mosaic floor of the Church of the Tithes, the tomb of the XI-XII centuries, as well as the history of the study of ancient Kyiv architectural monuments. The Metropolitan’s Residence houses an exposition that features the interior and utensils of the chambers of the chief clergyman during the XVIII-XIX centuries. The bakery houses exhibition halls now.
The Seminary was built in 1763-1767. It is a two-story rectangular building that stretches along almost 108 m from east to west. Two ledges on the southern facade create a front entrance. A high roof “with a crease” adds to its greatness. Now it houses the State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine.
The Bakery was built in the 1720s. It was originally a one-story building. In 1770-1783, the second floor was built on top. In 1853, it was rebuilt again. An internal layout and architectural decoration of the facades were changed, after which the building lost its original Baroque appearance. In the XIX century, the southern wing of the Consistory was built from the Volodymyrska street side. The north wing turned out to be in-built into a new building with its south end. Today, exhibition halls are open here. You can visit them daily.
The Refectory was built in the 1720s. It is also called the Warm or Little Sophia. In the second half of the XVIII century, it was under construction. In 1822 it was rebuilt into the winter church of the Nativity of Christ. Storages were located on the second floor, and storage rooms were in the basements. It is a beautiful baroque structure, decorated with a wave-shaped pediment. During restoration in the 1970s, the refectory partially renewed its original architectural view. Today there is an exhibition where you can see fragments of the mosaic floor of the Church of the Tithes, tombs with carvings of the 11th – 12th centuries, as well as get acquainted with the history of the study of architectural monuments of ancient Kyiv.
St. Sophia Bell Tower was built after the fire of 1697 to become the first stone building in the Upper Town ( with the height of 76 m) at that time. The bell tower is an example of Ukrainian architecture of the XVIII century, standing out for its idleness among other structures. Climbing the bell tower will open a panoramic view of the central part of Kyiv.
The South Tower is an entrance to the Sofia courtyard, erected during the ruling of hetman Ivan Mazepa. It is a stone square two-story building, crowned with a massive hemispherical dome with a cone-shaped spire. In 2010, an Archangel Michael-shaped weather vane was installed on the spire. The first floor of the building has got a vaulted passage, and above it – there is a room where a reserve storage is now located. From the east, an ancient section of brickwork adjoins the tower, which combines it with the bell tower.
Cells of the Cathedral Elders were erected in the middle of the XVIII century and first served as cells for monks. This building stretches along almost 60 m to the north and south. Originally it was a one-story building with an open gallery on the western facade. In the second half of the XVIII century, the second floor was erected. In the XIX century, a two-story wooden gallery with a staircase to the second floor was attached to the western facade. Now the storage of the reserve is located in the Fraternal corps.
The Metropolitan’s Residence was built in 1722-1730 in the Ukrainian baroque style. It is located in the western part of the Sofia complex. It was originally a one-story building. Later the second floor was erected. Between 1740s-1750s the attic floor was completed, as well as eastern and western facades were decorated with baroque pediments. In the 1880s an extension was erected on the west side. It was a balcony with a staircase, from where you can go down to the garden from the second floor. In 2005-2008 a restoration of the preserved painting of the 18th century was carried out. Today the Metropolitan’s House hosts a museum exposition that reproduces the interior and utensils of the metropolitan chambers of the 18th-19th centuries, exhibition halls, and a conference hall.
Zaborovskiy Gate was erected in 1745 according to Ukrainian Baroque tradition by order of Rafail Zaborovsky. It served as the main entrance to the Metropolitan’s House. At the beginning of the XIX century, due to an active development of the center it was dismantled. Only the authentic western facade with an arch and the pediment with stucco works have survived. In 2007-2009 restoration works of the architectural monument in its original form took place. The gate is a part of the Sofia Kyiv ensemble. It is located on the side of St. George Lane. The architectural decor of the facades creates chiaroscuro, adding a picturesque appearance to the building; while luxurious stucco molding and two pairs of columns ensure festivity and lightness. A curved pediment with an ornament and the family coat of arms of Metropolitan Zaborovsky rises above the arch. The center of the composition is the metropolitan miter that serves as a symbol of spiritual authority.
The House of Diocesan School Council is the monastery building № 3 (XX century.)
The St. Sophia’s Cathedral is the greatest architectural structure, built by Yaroslav the Wise the Grand Prince in 1037. It preserved until now not only the richness of ancient architecture, but also the picturesque decoration of the 11th century, mainly mosaics and frescoes. Religious and state ideas of that time were embodied in the artistic image of Sophia of Kiev. The ensemble of mosaics is decorated with the main altar of the St. Sofia’s Temple.