We are glad to present the new release of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project to you. This week we will continue our story about Kyiv State Preserve-Museum “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” and visitors that attended it in the 1950s.

It was the time when the number of the Preserve comers started increasing, which complicated the work of the stuff of the institution to a large extent. First of all, it created difficulties in the work of the Excursion Bureau, because the number of visitors in the group raised to fifty-sixty persons. Besides, sometimes the guides had more than one group of such quantity per one working day. At those years the general excursion route included only the cultural sites situated in the Upper Lavra. It started near the Trinity Gate Church, and ended near the Church of the Savior at Berestove. The territory of the Lower Lavra could be seen from the Observation Platform as the excursions to the Lower Lavra were undesirable for the ideological reasons. Tourists could get the idea about the life of the active Monastery from there only.

Most of the architectural monuments of the Upper Lavra were still dilapidated or - in the process of restoration. As it was noted in our previous releases, the restoration of Lavra monuments was generally completed in the early 1960s.

The next release of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project will be dedicated to one of the restored sites of Lavra, which was built over the Economic Gate, restored in 1959, and known as the Church of All Saints.

Captions to the illustrations:

1. Vacationers from “Pushcha-Vodytsya” sanatorium on the excursion. December 7, 1950

2. Navy crew during the excursion, 1952

3. Tourists near the Eastern facade of the Trinity Gate Church. Standing in the middle is V. Krikotun, a scientist of the Preserve. October 25, 1953

4. A group of tourists near the Ciborium located near the Great Lavra Bell Tower, 1950s

5. Excursion group near the Chapel of St. John the Theologian in the Dormition Cathedral.

6. Vacationers from the “May Day” sanatorium that stand near the Western facade of the Trinity Gate Church, 1955

7. At the “Science and Religion” exhibition, 1950s

8. Tourists near the graves of Ivan Iskra and Vasyl Kochubey, 1950s

9. Tourists on the Observation Platform. Second from the left is V. Krikotun.

10. A group of tourists in front of the central gate, 1959