Saint Sophia Cathedral

Saint Sophia Cathedral

The Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev rivals the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople in design, symbolizing the “New Constantinople.” Constructed in the 11th century when Kiev was the capital of the Christian Principality of Kiev, this area became Christianized in 988 after the baptism of Saint Vladimir. The spiritual and cultural influence of Kiev-Pechersk contributed to the spread of Orthodox thought in Russia from the 17th to the 19th century.

The Saint Sophia Museum is one of Kiev’s greatest landmarks and a key sanctuary of traditional Eastern Orthodoxy. The Kiev Pechersk Lavra, also named for its caves (known as pechery in Ukrainian), served as the foremost and most influential Eastern Orthodox monastery before the Mongol invasion and is called the Kiev-Pechersk-Lavra. The monastery underwent large-scale stone construction during the 1070s. During this period, the Dormition Cathedral, the Trinity Gate Church, and the refectory were built. The Kiev-Pechersk-Lavra architectural complex was not completed until the end of the 12th century.

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Ukraine[Ukraine]

Province/State: Kiev Oblast [Kiev Oblast]

City: Kiev [Kiev]