Saint Sophia Cathedral Complex (Kyiv, 20th century)

The magnificent cathedral complex, located in the capital of Ukraine, was founded more than 1000 years ago.

Grades 6 – 12

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Questions

According to legend, what is the task of the three winged figures of Archangel Michael in Kyiv?
What does the term 'narthex' mean?
What epithet is commonly used with the name of the church that houses the refectory? (..... Sophia)
In what style was the refectory built?
Who was the gate, forming the western entrance, named after?
What has the Bursa's function been since 1837?
Which was the first stone building constructed after the fire of 1697?
What was the original function of the Bursa?
In which century was the metropolitan's house built?
What does the term metropolitan mean?
How many domes did the cathedral originally have?
At which end of the naves are the apses situated?
In what style was the cathedral rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century?
In what style was the original cathedral built?
How many naves does the cathedral have?

Which church was the model (and at the same time the rival) of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv?
In which modern-day city is the building after which Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv was named located?
What shape is the cathedral?
How many domes does the cathedral currently have?
When was the cathedral rebuilt?
Which event, taking place in 1697 in Kyiv, made it necessary to rebuild the cathedral?
During whose rule was the cathedral rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century?
When was Saint Sophia Cathedral added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites?
What was celebrated in Saint Sophia Cathedral in 2011?
What is the length and width of the cathedral?
During whose reign was the cathedral founded?
When was Saint Sophia Cathedral founded?
The capital of which state was Kyiv from the late 9th century?
Which city is the capital of Ukraine?
In which Ukrainian city is the Saint Sophia Cathedral located?

Scenes

Building complex

Located on the banks of the Dnieper River, Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. According to archaeological evidence, it was founded near important trade routes around the 6th and 7th centuries. In the 9th century, it became the capital of the Kievan Rus, the first state in Eastern Europe.

During the next thousand years, Kyiv withstood numerous turbulent historical events. After the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, the city became the capital city of Ukraine. With a population of around 3 million people, the city is one of the most significant economic, scientific and cultural centres in Eastern Europe.

Saint Sophia Cathedral is the oldest Eastern Orthodox church. It was built with the intention of rivalling the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, which is reflected in its name. Although the information obtained from different sources is ambiguous, it is believed that the cathedral was founded in 1011 during the rule of Vladimir the Great. At the time of its completion, the cathedral was one of the largest buildings in Europe.

Saint Sophia Cathedral played a significant role as the main church of the Kievan Rus and the state's administrative and cultural centre. It was the place where ambassadors were received, important agreements were concluded, chronicles were written, and Princes of Kiev were buried. The cathedral also housed a school and the first library in the Kievan Rus.

In 1697, a great fire destroyed the wooden buildings of the complex. These were replaced by stone structures that have survived to this day. In the early 18th century, thanks to the efforts of Hetman Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa, Saint Sophia Cathedral underwent a complete restoration and was rebuilt in the style of Ukrainian Baroque.

Apart from its great architectural and artistic value, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv is also significant due to its role in history. Since its construction, the building has been the site of numerous historical events and also housed the seat of the metropolitans of Kyiv.

In 1990, the Saint Sophia Cathedral complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2011, the cathedral celebrated its millennium, that is, its 1000th anniversary.

Buildings

The central building, that is, the cathedral itself, is also the oldest and most prominent structure of the complex. According to the generally accepted estimation, it was founded in 1011. It is not known who designed the cathedral, but they were certainly significant artists of Byzantine church architecture.

The floor plan of the cross-domed cathedral forms a Greek cross. The building is 29.5 m long and 29.3 m wide. It has 5 naves and 5 apses that face in the eastern direction. Originally, its roof structure consisted of 13 domes arranged in a pyramidal shape: the tallest central dome was surrounded by 4 medium-sized domes that were flanked by 8 small ones.

Today, the cathedral’s appearance is determined by the Baroque elements added during its reconstruction in the 17–18th centuries. The building was extended with 6 more domes, thus their number reached 19. The central dome is covered with golden tiles, while the other domes feature only golden cupolas. The walls of the cathedral are whitewashed and supported with buttresses.

Narration Show all

Located on the banks of the Dnieper River, Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. In the 9th century, it became the capital of the Kievan Rus, the first state in Eastern Europe.

In 1990, the Saint Sophia Cathedral complex was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2011, the cathedral celebrated its millennium, that is, its 1000th anniversary.