Church of the Saviour on Berestovo reopens its doors after winter conservation

The Church of the Saviour on Berestov invites believers and all Ukrainians to visit it again after winter conservation. On the same day, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve hosted a special tour, which takes place only once a year.

Visitors were able to see the church and appreciate the ancient frescoes of the XIII and XVII centuries created by the ‘fingers of the Greeks’. Archaeologist Dmytro Peftets and art historian Olena Lopukhina took visitors through time, telling them about the sarcophagi of princes hidden here, about ancient church construction techniques, and how the frescoes that were considered lost were found.

In the lecture hall of the Conservation Area, connoisseurs of cultural and spiritual history listened to a lecture entitled ‘The Temple as a Model of the World: Continuity of Tradition’ by Natalia Kryvda, Doctor of Philosophy. Kateryna Voyevudska presented a meaningful story about the creation and development of the Ukrainian cultural, religious and statehood tradition, which was complemented by a thematic tour.

‘We are sincerely grateful to everyone who was with us this day! To our guests for their interest in important issues of the past and present, to Natalia Kryvda for her deep and relevant conversation, and to the scientists of the Reserve and the guides of the Pechersk Lavra for their fascinating stories. We also thank the Antony and Theodosius of Pechersk Charitable Foundation for their support in organising the event,’ the event organisers wrote on the Lavra’s Facebook page.

The Church of the Saviour on Berestovo is still open to visitors. Tickets can be purchased at the box office. In rainy weather, the church is closed, as moisture is a danger to the unique frescoes.

Church of the Saviour on Berestovo

The Church of the Saviour on Berestovo is an ancient religious building in Kyiv near the Kyiv Cave Monastery, on the former outskirts of Berestovo, an architectural monument of the XI-XII centuries. It is located outside the fortress walls of the Kyiv Cave Monastery, but is considered part of the historical and architectural ensemble of the monastery. In 1990, it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites together with the Lavra.

The exact date when it was built is unknown. The church could have been built during the reign of Kyivan Prince Volodymyr Monomakh between 1113 and 1125 as the main cathedral of the Transfiguration Monastery. During the Mongol invasion in 20140, it was in decline.

In 1640-1644, the construction of the building was resumed through the efforts of Kyiv Metropolitan Petro Mohyla. Later, the church was rebuilt in the Ukrainian Baroque style and re-painted. In the early nineteenth century, a three-tiered bell tower in the style of classicism was added.

The Church of the Saviour on Berestov is part of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve. The vast majority of the ancient foundations that were not used in the reconstruction have been preserved and museumified. The interior of the church has preserved 17th-century paintings and fragments of 12th-century frescoes.

It is worth noting that restoration work began in the Church of the Saviour on Berestovo in 2017. Thanks to the efforts of specialists, all authentic fragments of the monument were preserved.

On 8 March, a cross fell from the Kyiv Cave Monastery.