Today's photo story is dedicated to the decoration of the Dormition Cathedral facades realized in the spring-summer of 2000.

It should be noted that the implementation of these works was preceded by a careful study of resources, both written and graphic. The concept of reconstruction of the Cathedral provided that its interior and exterior decoration should correspond to the forms in which it was decorated in the first half of the 18th century - after the damage caused by the Lavra fire of 1718.

In the spring of 2000, the scaffolding was erected around the newly rebuilt Cathedral and the decoration of its facades began. The first stage - finishing facades with stucco - began in May, under the most favorable weather conditions. It was chosen a decorative stucco for the facades of the Cathedral, unappropriated for painting - white with a warm (cream) hue. The stucco was first tested in working conditions. The contractors were obliged to comply with rather strict technical requirements. In particular, the stucco surface had to be dense, smoothed to a silky sheen to prevent impurity, and be periodically cleaned and repaired without any complications. The stucco itself had to be strong and durable.

The cornices on the facades of the Cathedral were made of ceramic bricks. Ceramic rosettes were made on the basis of authentic ones, fragments of which were found during archaeological research. Gilding was applied to the gypsum stucco, which was first grounded and covered with a mixture of drying oil with turpentine, and then with a lead chrome and a layer of varnish.

At the end of June 2000, the facades of the Cathedral were decorated with paintings, which were completed in August. Icons painted on metal sheets were fixed in the dome drums. The icons for the facades were painted on asbestos-cement boards with silicate paints of the KEIM company. The central drum was decorated with 32 icons, the four facades with 107 icons (34 on western, 32 on northern, 12 on southern and 29 on eastern facades). The total area of the Cathedral exterior painting was almost 227 square meters.

In the next release of the “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project you will learn about the interior decoration of the reconstructed Dormition Cathedral in 2000.

Captions to the illustrations
0. The main entrance to the Great Pechersk Church - the Dormition Cathedral. The late 19th century. Photo from the collection of the National Preserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” (KPL-N-5075)
01-02. Dormition Cathedral in scaffolding
03. Reproduction of stucco on one of the frontons
04. Installation of a ceramic rosette on the facade of the Cathedral
05. Ceramic rosette with the image of a cherub
06. Gilding works on stucco
07. Restorers are preparing to raise the St. Anthony of Pechersk icon 
08. In the process of lifting
09. Rise of the icon of St. Theodosius of Pechersk
10. Another icon was raised. It will soon be installed on the facade
11 Composition with five archangels is waiting for its installation
12. Composition “Translation of the relics of St. Theodosius of Pechersk”
13. Composition “Appearance of the image of the Great Pechersk Church to the architects”
14-16. Restorers are working on the image of St. John the Evangelist (on the northwest corner of the fronton of St. John the Evangelist Chapel)
17. Image of St. Matthew the Evangelist (on the southwest corner of the fronton of St. John the Evangelist Chapel)