Vladimir Cathedral (Kiev) is officially called the Kiev Vladimir Patriarchal Cathedral. This is one of the most beautiful temples of the city. Its decoration is striking in its beauty and sensation of high spirituality. Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev (photo below) is a functioning Orthodox church. All travel companies must include it in the list of attractions of their routes.
Cathedral History
One of the most famous and famous Orthodox buildings is the Vladimir Cathedral. Kiev was not chosen for construction by chance. The construction of the temple was dedicated to the anniversary of the baptism of the city.
Its history began in 1853, after an appeal to Nicholas I of the Metropolitan of Kiev and Galitsky Filaret with a request for permission to build a cathedral in honor of Prince Vladimir, the baptist of Russia.
All work was carried out on charitable donations. On the day of the celebration of the memory of Prince Vladimir of Kiev, July 15, 1862, the first building stone was laid. The construction of the building ended in 1882, and work began on the interior decoration of the cathedral. Finally, in the spring of 1896, work was completed. The official opening of Vladimir Cathedral took place on September 1.
In 1929, by order of the Soviet authorities, the cathedral was closed and turned into a museum of anti-religious propaganda. Then there was an archive, then a book depository. During the Second World War, the temple resumed its work and was no longer closed.
Painting
It is difficult to find a temple that can surpass the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev in the beauty of its mural. The icons of famous artists amaze with their beauty and spirituality. The walls of the cathedral are painted with huge compositions on biblical themes. There are also historical plots about the baptism of Rus by Prince Vladimir. In addition to icons, on the walls you can see portraits of famous historical figures.
Many artists were invited to paint the walls in Vladimir Cathedral. Kiev welcomed such celebrities as Viktor Vasnetsov, Mikhail Nesterov, Wilhelm (Vasily) Kotarbinsky, Pavel Svedomsky, Mikhail Vrubel.
The entire decoration of the temple is based on the idea of perpetuating the memory of Prince Vladimir. The history of Russia itself is presented as an integral part of human history. The temple itself serves as a great gratitude to the Creator, the assertion of his glory through the greatness of holy Kievan Rus.
Worship services
Among the many churches and cathedrals, many visiting parishioners try to get into the service precisely in the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev. The schedule of services is as follows:
- morning service - 9:00;
- evening liturgy –17: 00;
- the sacrament of confession - daily before the liturgy;
- Holy Communion - daily, immediately after the end of the liturgy;
- baptism - daily from 11:00 to 15:00, without an appointment;
- wedding - by prior arrangement (required);
- prayer for health - daily after the end of the liturgy;
- panihida - daily after the end of the liturgy;
- Divine services - on Sundays and holidays:
- early liturgy - 7:00;
- Late Liturgy - 10:00;
- near the relics of St. Barbara akathist - every Tuesday at 8.00;
- near the relics of St. Macarius akathist - every Thursday at 17.00;
- the Protection of the Holy Virgin the Akathist - every Sunday at 17.00;
- as a rule, on Friday exclusively during Lent - the Sacrament of Unction;
- excursions - daily from 11:00 to 16:00.
For visiting the cathedral is open daily from 7:30 to 19:30, on Sundays and holidays - from 6:30 to 20:00.
Shrines of the Cathedral
Very conditionally, all the shrines are divided into three groups:
- Icons
- miraculous relics of saints;
- icons with particles of relics.
Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev has at its disposal all kinds of such shrines:
- The relics of St. Macarius, Metropolitan of Kiev and St. Barbara.
- Icons with particles of the relics of St. Nicholas and St. Agapit of the Caves; cross with a particle of the tree of the Lord.
- Icons: the icon of the Mother of God of Herbovetskaya, "Unexpected Joy", "The Horny One."
Every year, thousands of believers come to ask for help from the shrines in the Vladimir Cathedral. Kiev has seen cases of miraculous healing more than once; some of them have documented evidence.
Architectural monument
Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev is also a monument of architecture. A wonderful example of the classical, specifically for Russian architecture, of the old Byzantine style. At the same time, the features of the Nikolaev style, characteristic of many buildings of that time, are clearly visible in the architecture of the temple.
The total length of the cathedral is 55 meters, the width reaches 30 meters. The highest point is 49 meters. The cathedral has seven domes (originally planned thirteen). The facade of the building is decorated with mosaics made by the artist Vladimir Frolov.
The central doors are cast in bronze. They depict two figures: this is Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir the Great. The author of all projects of bronze and marble works was academician Adrian Prakhov.
The mosaic floor and many interior elements are made of multi-colored marble. The stone was delivered not only from Italy; Russian, French, Spanish and Belgian material was used in the decoration of the temple. The central iconostasis is made of smoky gray Carrara marble.
Masters from Venice completed the mosaic work, and silverware and other utensils for the rituals were made by the jewelry company Khlebnikova, at that time one of the most famous.
Curious facts
There are some interesting facts about the cathedral:
- The temple itself was built over 34 years. In certain periods, the construction stopped for a long ten years.
- The construction budget has changed repeatedly and is constantly increasing. The final amount spent on the construction of the building at today's rate is estimated at more than fifty million dollars.
- The first project included the presence of thirteen domes. Such a cathedral was seen by architect Ivan Storm.
- To paint the frescoes of the cathedral, it took eleven years instead of the planned two. The work was done by 96 artists.
- Mikhail Vrubel was to become the main painter of the temple, but this did not happen due to the circumstances. The famous artist Nikolai Ge, despite the preliminary consent to work in the cathedral, unexpectedly refused to participate in this project. The reason was not announced.
- During the work on the image of the Virgin, Viktor Vasnetsov more than once fell from the forests. He worked on the image for two years. His brushes belong to thirty separate figures and fifteen compositions. For all the time of his work, more than two thousand square meters were painted with his hand.
Several grandmothers who are constantly in the temple will be happy to tell you about the history of the cathedral, tell you where to put candles, and make sure that your candle burns out.
Reviews of tourists who visited the cathedral are enthusiastic. Visitors note the extraordinary beauty of the structure, its majesty and solemnity. The most important thing that everyone, without exception, pays attention to is the high spirituality of the temple.