Dear Friends!

We continue our photo story about the reconstruction of the Dormition Cathedral. This selection of photographs represents the latest preparations for the consecration of the Great Pechersk Church, which took place during the celebration of the ninth anniversary of Ukraine's independence on August 24, 2000.

Less than two years have passed since the solemn laying of the symbolic capsule on the occasion of the starting date of the Dormition Cathedral reconstruction, and so we can already see the reconstructed Cathedral shining with all its seven golden domes. Of course, the interior work lasted for many a year, but the exterior of the Cathedral has been completely reconstructed in the elegant baroque forms of the mid-eighteenth century.

Unfortunately, the photos presented to you both in this and in previous releases cannot clearly illustrate all the huge amount of work that has been done in less than two years. Therefore, we would like to give the main technical and economic indicators of the reconstruction of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra main church:

• the size of the Cathedral is 45 × 45 m, and the total building area is 2025 m²;
• the total height of the Cathedral is 51,6 m; the height of the central part space is 31,2 m;
• the copper roof area is 4024 m², the weight of copper on the roof is 41,4 tons;
• the area of gilding of the domes, crosses, and ripidias is 1601 m², the weight of gold leaf that was used is 8,514 kg;
• the number of icons on facades and domes is 129, the number of artistic ceramics is 314;
• the total area of premises is 1921 m², the floor area with heating is 1900 m²; the mosaic floor area is 120 m²;
• the area of the central iconostases is 360 m², its height is 23,45 m, and its width is 21,4 m; the number of icons is 91;
• the area of gilded carved decor is 988 m², the weight of gold leaf that was used is 3,245 kg;
• the total number of iconostasis is 6, chandeliers - 14, and windows - 129;
• the total cost (in 2000 prices) is UAH 69 404 760.

In the next release of the “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project, you will learn about the consecration of the reconstructed Dormition Cathedral and the first divine services at the end of August 2000.

Captions to the illustrations
01-02. Dismantling of scaffolding near the apse of St. John the Evangelist Chapel and near the northern façade.
03. Completion of the exterior decoration of the Dormition Cathedral.
04. Oleg Grauzys, the author of the project on the Cathedral reconstruction, carefully supervised all stages of the work (he is in a white shirt in the center of the photo).
05. Dismantling of scaffolding near the western facade. Reconstruction of the Cathedral became a nationwide affair: the army joined.
06. Soldiers remove excess filling material from joints of the clinker pavement. 
07. On-site meeting. The second from the left is Oleg Grauzhys, the second from the right is Anatoliy Antonyuk, the research advisor of the project on Cathedral reconstruction, director of the Specialized Scientific Restoration Design Institute “Ukrproektrestavratsia”.
08. Back to work
09. Work continues on Cathedral Square. Oleg Grauzys is pictured from the back with Lavra Bell Tower in the background.
10-11. Prior to the consecration of the Cathedral, the surrounding buildings were renovated. The Refectory Church renovation.
12-13. Recent preparations.
14. Work is still ongoing, but worshipers are already gathering wondering “when there will be the consecration?”.
15. On the eve of the consecration of the Dormition Cathedral. President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, state leadership, representatives of design and construction organizations, and the Kyiv-Pechersk Preserve. August 22, 2000.