Dear Friends!

We continue our photo story about the reconstruction of the Dormition Cathedral during 1998-2000. Today's release is dedicated to the decoration of its interiors.

As far back as in October-December 1998, at the very beginning of the restoration work, the representatives of the Specialized Scientific Restoration Design Institute “Ukrproektrestavratsia” and the State Scientific and Technological Centre for Conservation and Restoration of Monuments “Konrest” examined the remains of oil mural painting preserved on the walls of the ruined church. After that, fragments of the preserved mural painting were conserved (see Figs. 1-7). At the same time, thorough research of iconographic and written sources was conducted, based on the results of which specialists of the Lviv branch of the Ukrproektrestavratsia Institute developed a system of mural paintings in the reconstructed Great Pechersk Church.

In February 1999, the design assignment for the Dormition Cathedral interior was approved in accordance with the concept of the rehabilitation of monumental painting. It provided for not only executing wall scenes but also producing four wooden carved iconostases, the floor in marble and natural stone, installing artistic lighting, chandeliers, and other lighting appliances. The interior of the Cathedral was to be decorated with gilded stucco moldings. Sculptural compositions were reproduced and restored using authentic elements found during the dismantling of the Cathedral ruins.

During 2000, the decoration of the central part of the church continued and was completed before the Christmas holidays. However, there was a lot of hard work ahead to recreate the interiors of the side altars of the Great Pechersk Church – both in the lower and the upper tiers (the painting of the latter continues to this day).

In the next release of the “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project, we will continue our story about the reconstruction of the Dormition Cathedral.

Captions to the illustrations
01. Scaffolding, installed in St. John the Evangelist Chapel for the restoration of the remains of the mural painting. To the right in the arch there is an image of St. John Climacus. Autumn 1998
02-06. Conservation and restoration of the mural painting are underway. Autumn 1998
07-08. Mural painting after restoration
09-10. Reproduction of ornamental compositions of the iconostasis
11. Structure of the iconostasis of the antechurch
12. Iconostasis of the antechurch
13. Chandelier of the central nave
14. Interior of the Dormition Cathedral during the Christmas holidays. January 2001
15. Fragment of the ancient floor of the Dormition Cathedral (reconstruction using authentic materials)
16. Divine service in the Dormition Cathedral. In the foreground - granite tiles, which were used to reproduce the floor
17-18. Granite floor of the Dormition Cathedral.