Here is the new release of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project.

This week we are going to present the selection of postcards from the 1960s that depict the architectural monuments of Kyiv-Pechersk State Historical and Cultural Preserve. This name, which the museum institution got in 1962, replaced its previous title, that of “State Preserve-Museum “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”.

Sets of postcards with the images of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and its monuments became the most popular printing matter in the 60s of the last century. In 1966 the circulation of this type of product was 100 thousand copies. Three years later, in 1969, it increased to 160 thousand copies, which showed the growing interest of the tourist community to the Preserve. The texts written on the leaflets were of Ukrainian, Russian and English origin so that all visitors of the Preserve, including foreigners, could easily read them.

However, even in the short captions to the photos of the Preserve (such as, Bell Towers of the Near and Far Caves, Lavra’s Printing House, its Bakery and Bookstore) one could find ideological stamps. The texts on them said that they were built by the “Lavra’s serf” Stepan Kovnir. Actually, this person was sometimes mentioned as the architect of these constructions. In fact, Stepan (or Stefan) Demyanovych Kovnir, a talented master of stonework, who participated in the construction or reconstruction of many buildings of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, was not a serf at all. He was quite a prosperous man who lived in Pechersk. Though, the situation demanded that he was shown as a poor serf-nugget that surpassed experienced experts that lived at that time. What is of interest is that no other architect of Lavra was ever mentioned in the captions to the photos.

On the back of the postcard, depicting the image of the Church of the Savior at Berestove (photo № 10), you can find the text: “Architectural monument of the 11th-12th centuries. The tomb of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow”. The text shifts the accents underlying ideological aspects typical for the Soviet propaganda, and neglecting other important information, for example that, which refers to Stepan Kovnir, who has been the warden of the Church of the Savior at Berestove for quite a long period of time.

In general, most of the images repeat the scenes familiar to us from pre-revolutionary photographs. At the same time, some postcards depict changes that touched the architectural ensemble in the course of time. Some of them do not have the image of the Dormition Cathedral. There is the emptiness in the place, where it had to stay. Besides, there are photos without some new buildings constructed in the 19th century. They were demolished by the restorers in 1940s and 1950s as superfluous. Photo № 13 shows the empty asphalt in the place where the tombstone of Petro Stolypin has once been. The tombstone rested in that place since 1911. In the early 1960s, on the eve of the arrival of the distinguished guests, it was demolished, “just in case”.

In the next issue of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project you will be acquainted with the illustrated booklets of Kyiv-Pechersk Preserve printed in 1960s.

Captions to the illustrations:

1. Cover of the set of postcards, 1966

2. St. Nicholas Church. Photo by I. Yegudin

3. Refectory, west facade. Photo by I. Yegudin

4. Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Photo by I. Yegudin

5. Excursion in the Kyiv-Pechersk State Historical and Cultural Preserve. Photo by I. Yegudin

6. Former Bakery and Bookstore (known as “Kovnir building”). Photo by I. Yegudin

7. Image of the Far Caves from the west. Photo by G. Logvin

8. Image of the Near Caves from the west. Photo by I. Yegudin

9. Cover of the set of postcards, 1969

10. Church of the Savior at Berestove. Photo by I. Yegudin

11. Descent to the Lower Lavra. Archbutanes of the Lavra Printing House. Photo by V. Solovsky

12. Facade of the Cells of the Council Elders. Photo by I. Kropyvnytsky

13. Refectory and the adjoining Church of St. Anthony and Theodosius. Photo by I. Kropyvnytsky

14. Image of the pre-war Dormition Cathedral and its ruins. Photo by G. Logvin

15. Image of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra from the south. Photo by V. Solovsky.