Dear friends!

We are glad to present a new release of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project to you.

It will be the first in the series of stories devoted to the reconstruction of Dormition Cathedral, the main Church of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, which took place at the tail end of the 20th century.

There are several reasons why we have selected this particular topic for the presentation. First of all, it is due to the chronological sequence of events devoted to Kyiv-Perchersk Lavra that we try to keep to. Second, it is because of the approach of the tragic date - November 3, 1941, the day when the Great Pechersk Church exploded and was almost destroyed. The photos that described that event chronologically appeared on the website of the Preserve exactly one year ago (see: link). This time we will talk about more pleasant event - how the Great Church was reconstructed.

Last year this topic was raised on the website of the Preserve 24 times. In our releases we were talking about the history of the construction of the Great Church and its shrine as well as the temple’s monumental paintings. Several stories were about the study of this outstanding cultural site in the postwar period. Still, nothing was yet said about the very reconstruction of the Cathedral in the latter end of the 20th century. This topic was the theme tune of only two exhibitions (“Full of Grace” and “Archaeological Research of the Dormition Cathedral,1945-2000”) that were organized in the exposition hall of the Great Church and worked from August 2020 to July 2021. Photos presented at the exhibitions were numerous but it was only a small part of the whole photographic massif devoted to the topic. The systematization of the photographs, dedicated to the events that happened twenty years ago, continued even after the closure of those exhibitions. That is why, it seems quite possible to share new and little-known photo materials about the reconstruction of the Great Pechersk Church with you.

Today we will talk about the archaeological research that preceded and later accompanied restoration works of the Cathedral. The expedition, which carried out the research, exercised archaeological control and was done with the participation of the employees of the Preserve, was supervised by G. Yu. Ivakin, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Deputy Director of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. One of the most unexpected archeological findings at the first stage of the works was the discovery of the remains of Trypillia culture (III millennium BC).

Next week “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project will continue the story about the archaeological research that preceded the reconstruction of the Dormition Cathedral in the latter end of the 20th century.

Captions to the illustrations:
1. Fragment of the walls of the Dormition Cathedral that servived after the explosion
2-3. Prayer on the ruins of the Cathedral before the start of the restoration works. In the center - Hieromonk Anthony. In the background of photo № 2 - the employees of the Preserve: in the center - A. Zankin, O. Kotsyuba, K. Khomenko, S. Balakin, M. Konovalenko, O. Syromyatnikov; on the right - O. Koval and V. Kolpakova
4. Drilling of wells for insitu piles
5.Ruins start to be cleared
6. Archaeologists begin working. On the left - O. Ryzhenko (Chobitko), the first on the right - S. Balakin
7-8. Setting up a tent over the site of archaeological research. In photo № 7 on the left - V. Honchar, on the right - O. Syromyatnikov; in photo № 8 - O. Siromyatnikov
9-11. Clearing Trypillia settlement. The work is carried out by S. Balakin
12. Findings on the site of Trypillia settlement.
13. O. Bystrushkin, the head of the Main Directorate of Culture of Kyiv, is informed about the progress of work. In the center - S. Krolevets, General Director of Kyiv-Pechersk Preserve. In the background - M. Tymoschuk, Chief Engineer of the Preserve 
14. The head of the archeological expedition G. Ivakin speaks to the Administration of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and shows first archeological findings to them. In the center – Pavlo, Father Superior of the Monastery; on the left - S. Krolevets, General Director of the Preserve