Reconstruction of Dormition Cathedral (1998-1999)

Dear friends!

Here is a new release of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project.

Today we will continue the story about the reconstruction of the Great Pechersk Church and present the photo chronicle of the events of winter 1998-1999.

According to the approved restoration project, the ancient masonry was first cleared. At that stage, all the later layers were dismantled. In different years, their purpose was to keep the ruins of the Cathedral from their further destruction. The fragments of the original building materials, which lost their strong connection with the foundation, were also temporarily dismantled (Figs. 2-4). A lot of ruined material was split into individual elements and deformed. In addition, some parts of the Cathedral, built in different periods, were made of diverse building materials. With this in mind, the builders took the decision to reinforce the foundations with Fondedile piles. In December, 1998, they began strengthening the foundation of the Cathedral with Fondedile piles (20 cm in diameter). The piles were pushed to the depth of 22-23 m. Their total number exceeded 700 units (Ills. 5-9).

The reconstruction of the main Church of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra presented some serious difficulties. The main of them consisted in conserving the remains of the walls built in the times of Kyivan Rus and their “involvement” into the total restored ensemble of the building, along with its new masonry. For this purpose, the latest methods of “building reconstruction” were used. In Ukraine it was done for the first time. At first, the old walls were conserved. Then, the workers eliminated cracks existing in them and connected the old masonry with the new walls. As a result, the two blocks, the old and the new ones, formed one massive. After strengthening the foundation and walls of the Сathedral, the brickwork began. The lower part of the walls was reinforced (Ills. 10-13).

Snow and frost have significantly complicated restoration works on the monument. The builders had to set up tarpaulins to continue working, especially during heavy snowfalls (Ills. 14-16).

In the next irelease of “Memories of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” photo project we are going to continue the story of the reconstruction of Dormition Cathedral in spring and summer 1999.