We present to your attention the new release of the “Memories of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project dedicated to the restoration of the Church of All Saints over the Economic Gate in the late 1950s. This church is one of the most outstanding monuments of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra of the Baroque period.

In 1957, specialists of the Republican Special Research and Restoration Production Workshops of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for Construction drew up a restoration project of All Saints Church over the Economic Gate of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on the basis of architectural measurements of 1952 and 1957, archival and literary data, field studies and engineering conclusion.

Prior to the restoration that lasted during 1957–1959, in general, the church was in satisfactory condition. However, there were significant losses in the decoration of the exterior walls both due to time and due to inauthentic interventions of previous conservation activities. The plaster of the facades lost its strength, the window fillings, doors and oak stairs leading to the church required repair.

Restoration work of 1957 was started by the staff of the Kyiv Interregional Workshop № 1 of the Republican Special Research and Restoration Production Workshops.

During the restoration, the exterior decoration of the main volume of the church was renovated, the extension in the south-east corner and arcade in the church entrance were refurbished, the domes, cupolas and drums were cleaned and gilded, the roof of the church and antechurch were repaired, and the ceiling in the sacristy was replaced. In the interior of the church the wooden stairs were restored, lost cast-iron floor plates were replaced, wall paintings were consolidated and the iconostasis was partially restored. At the same time, an entrance gate and lightning protection were installed.

The next release of the “Memories of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project will be dedicated to the Lavra monuments on postcards of the 1960s.

Picture captions:

1. General view of the Church of All Saints from the east prior to the restoration. 1957

2. View of the church and extension from the southeast prior to the restoration. 1957

3. General view of the church from the south prior to the restoration. 1957

4. Fragment of the south-western facade of the church prior to the restoration. 1957

5. Fragment of the northern facade of the church prior to the restoration. 1957

6. Cartouche on the northern facade of the church prior to the restoration. 1957

7. Gallery at the entrance to the church. View from the southeast prior to the restoration. 1957

8. Gallery at the entrance to the church. View from the southwest prior to the restoration. 1957

9. Fragment of the central dome drum prior to the restoration. 1957

10. Fragment of a small dome drum prior to the restoration. 1957

11. Cupola over the small dome prior to the restoration. 1957

12. Eastern part of the church during the restoration. 1959

13. Fragment of the southern facade during the restoration. 1958

14. General view of the church from the east during the restoration. 1959

15. Courtyard near the western facade of the church during the restoration

16. Decorative window casings of the second tier and corner pilasters during the restoration. 1959

17. Framing of the window of the second tier after restoration. 1959

18. Ending of the pilasters and a fragment of a cruciform window after restoration. 1959

19. Fragment of the central dome drum with a dome and a cupola after restoration. 1959

20. Drum under the eastern dome after restoration. 1959

21. Gallery at the entrance to the church. View from the southeast after restoration

22. Southern facade of the Church of All Saints of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra over the Economic Gate after restoration. 1960