The Collegiate Church of the Pyrohoshcha Madonna Assumption

  The first church, as the symbol of indestructible spirit of our people, the Collegiate Church of the Pyrohoshcha Madonna Assumption appeared in the heart of Podil. This church has belonged to many generations, and its destiny is the destiny of whole nation through the ages.
  In accordance with Hypatian and Laurentian chronicles, the Pyrohoshcha Madonna had been founded and built in 1131-1136, by Mstyslav, the Prince of Kyiv, the son of Volodymyr Monomakh. The last lines of «The Tale of Ihor's Campaign» («Slovo o polku Ihorevi») narrate that in 1185 Ihor Svyatoslavych «rides across Borytchev to the Pyrohoshcha Madonna» (probably, the prince was going to bow down to the ground to the great blessed place and thank it for the liberation from captivity by Polovtsi tribe).
  The Collegiate Church of the Pyrohoshcha Madonna Assumption was a great importance for the city life, it was the main collegiate church for merchants, lower-middle class and artisans in Podol, and in 1613-1633 it was the center of Kyiv metropoly. The most valuable part of the city archive was stored here (which fully burned down in 1651 and 1808); there was a school, a hospital and orphan’s home. In the churchyard highly honourable citizens had been buried.
  In 1935, the Pyrohoshcha Madonna shared the fare of numerous Kyivan temples. After 800 years of spiritual service for its nation, the church was demolished by the totalitarian regime.
  The long and difficult way was passed before the reconstruction of the church. Historians, archaeologists, architects, other specialists were looking for the right model to be reconstructed, because in fact the temple was repeatedly demolished and reconstructed. What time marks should be considered for reconstruction of the Pirohoshcha Madonna – ХІІ, ХVІІ or ХVІІІ century?
  In 1989, the winner of project competition on church reconstruction was the creative collective of the architects from Kyiv, namely Y. Aseyev, M. Zharikov, V. Shevtchenko, who proposed the project of the temple of ХІІ century. But reconstruction work had begun after acceptance, in 1995, by the executive committee of Kyiv Council of the people deputies, the decision about the restoration of the Church of the Pyrohoshcha Madonna, according to ХІІ century model.
  From all over Ukraine, the best restorers of «Ukrrestorationya» corporation were involved in the restoration of the object. By the individual order the Kyiv plant «Keramperlit» produced bricks under specified template. The copper cupola and roof are crowned by the 1,5 m height cross. An interesting feature of the interior is a bronze lamp (choros), which is under the main cupola, as well as wooden decorative beams, the marble iconostasis, the gilt imperial gate and the cross. The floor is covered by granite slabs, and in the altar part - by marble.
  On April, 7 1998 the State commission has accepted the object with the excellent mark. No wonder that the light, vivid building; the thought-out details of interior and external organization attract attention with its aesthetics.
  Now everyone, who comes here, can dip into ХІІ century, feel the spirit of that time, because this church is the first and unique one, where everyone can imagine the times when the Prince Ihor with his warriors met with Podolyans here, and stand in the former graveyard near the grave with the reburied remains of our ancestors, one of which, by the way, is the honourary architect from Kyiv, I. Hryhorovych-Barsky, the author of church reconstruction in 1770.
  Like Phoenix, the Pyrohoshcha Madonna has revived from ruins. In short period (9 months) «Ukrrestoration» corporation built up this temple. In spite of all troubles in our life it was necessary to revive it, seeing herein the element of repentance after the epoch of bellicose atheism. Thus on April, 11, 1998, after this majestic temple was returned to Kievans, we took the first step to realization of the Government program of restoration of unique sights of history and culture.
  The Pyrohoshcha Madonna is the beginning of revival of sacred places in ancient Kyiv.