“Historical event”: Epifaniy holds a Ukrainian service in the ancient St Cyril’s Church in Kyiv

Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine held a solemn service in the ancient St Cyril’s Church in Kyiv.

He called it a historic event, which is evidence that Ukrainians are returning to their home, to the true ancient and glorious history of our Motherland, Ukraine. He posted this on Facebook.

The Metropolitan noted that for the first time a liturgy was held in the Ukrainian language in the church. The student academic choir and bishops from different dioceses took part in this important event.

‘And the Lord supports us on this path, giving us the opportunity to illuminate the truth, restore justice, and throw off the yoke of the Russian world,’ he said.

St Cyril’s Church in Kyiv

St Cyril’s Church, located in Kyiv at 12 Olena Teliha Street, is now a department of the St Sophia of Kyiv National Reserve. The uniqueness of this church is that, after St Sophia of Kyiv Cathedral, it is the second church in the capital that has survived to this day from the distant times of princely Ukraine-Rus.

This temple is not just an ancient architectural monument, it preserves the glorious past, which speaks to us through ancient frescoes and monumental paintings. By the way, we have 800 square metres of ancient frescoes with unique scenes.

Founded in the twelfth century by Prince Vsevolod Olhovych of Chernihiv, St Cyril’s Church was originally not only a shrine but also the family tomb of the Olhovych princes. It is here that the hero of the Tale of Igor’s Campaign, Prince Sviatoslav Vsevolodovych, is buried. Later, the St Cyril’s Monastery, one of the spiritual centres of ancient Ukraine, grew up near the church. For example, St Dymytrii Tuptalo, a prominent church figure of the 17th and 18th centuries, author of famous spiritual teachings and a collection of Lives of the Saints, began his monastic life here.

Over the centuries, this shrine has undergone extremely difficult trials: the Mongol invasion, looting by Radziwill’s troops, fires, and the loss of the monastery’s status. In the eighteenth century, the church was reconstructed in the Ukrainian Baroque style. However, by order of Empress Catherine II in 1787, the Kyiv Cyril Monastery was liquidated: a psychiatric hospital was set up on the monastery’s territory, and St Cyril’s Church became a hospital.

Earlier, the Church of the Saviour on Berestov reopened its doors after winter conservation.