Mother of Russ Town

Kyiv is the holy place of Russ land, it is known from the ancient times with its beauty and valuable historic heritage.  

In 882 the first Kyiv Prince Oleg Ryurikovych united all Russ lands and began to reign in Kyiv with stating: “It will be the mother of Russ towns!” And since that time the power of Kyiv princes began to increase and with it the glory of the capital of Ancient Russ began to increase.

Kyiv spread its furnishings on the banks of the Dnipro, one of the largest rivers of Europe, almost in the center of its basin. In one of the ancient legends the Dnipro river is recalled as Borysfen that can be translated as “the river flowing from the North”. At this Dnipro is characterized as the greatest river being rich with fish, that yields in its greatness only to the Nile and Danube.

The first chronicle recalling about the capital of Ancient Russ is dated from 862. It is in that time the Nestor, the monk of Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, began his work over the “The Story of Time Years”, the many-years folk legend on the formation and history of Kyiv Russ. But this chronicle is not the evidence of the birth of the most ancient Eastern-Slavonic town, because the sources of its foundation lead to the depth of the centuries. Nestor-chronicler evidences that the story on Andrew Apostle’s campaign to the North was retained up to his times. During his floating in the Dnipro waters Saint Andrew had blessed the slopes on which Kyiv had to be situated.    

According to the folk legend, the three brothers – Kyi, Schek and Khoriv, as well as their sister Lybid had established the town on these Dnipro slopes and called them Kyiv after the senior brother.   

Since Oleg’s reign Kyiv became stronger and was developed, and together with it the greatness of Russ state was expanded. During its almost 1500 years history “Mother of Russ Towns” was repeatedly conquered by enemies, was fired and again was revived from the ashes. From the very beginning the territorial development of Kyiv was determined by the need in the constant and reliable fortification: there were always many enemies of Eastern Slaves and Russ. The innumerable hordes of nomads trampled the steppes near the Black Sea, from the West the aggressive Polish and Hungarian princes, from North the merciless Varangians invaded to Russ. So the years of the existence of the ancient Russ state were full of the fights’ thunder and marches’ noise. 

As long ago as since Oleg reign Kyiv became one of the largest towns of Eastern Europe. After the death of the first Kyiv prince all heirs of the prince throne always embodied the powerful rulers and creators of the cultural heritage of Kyiv Russ.

After Baptism of Russ by the prince Volodymyr in 988, Kyiv became famous as Christian apprenticeship in Russ. In those times the construction of many temples and monasteries was begun – the most important historic and architectural relics, and the main Pagan idol Perun tied to the horse tail and thrown publicly from Borychev descent to the Dnipro.

The most glorious times of the ancient Kyiv were in the epoch of the prince Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054). Yaroslav expanded the territory of the town considerably and enclosed it with the wall and bank where the gates were established from four different sides: from Southern East – Gradsky, from Southern West – Gold, from Northern West – Zhydivsky, from Southern East – Lyadsky. The town inside was decorated with many majestic constructions. The main of these constructions was Kyiv St. Sophia Cathedral with the Metropolitan House in the vicinity. This Cathedral was established at the place where in 1037 the fight of Russ warriors with Pechenigs occurred, and the latter were defeated.    

During Yatoslav reign the first law code “Russ Truth” was compiled. He tries to decrease the Russ church dependence on Constantinople by the appointment in 1051 (without the Patriarch sanction) Rusin Illarion as Kyiv Metropolitan.   

In 1039 the renewal of Desyanynna Church that suffered considerably during the fire in 1017 was completed and was made its sanctification. It is quite probable a great number of other temples of God both in Kyiv and in the vicinity were established and were renewed due to the generosity of the prince Yaroslav who in accordance with the evidence of the eye-witnesses tried to make our “Mother of Russ Towns” similar to Byzantium.

Before his death Yaroslav the Wise divided the state among his sons, gave Kyiv throne to Izyaslav. The prince was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral in the marble sarcophagus that stands up to now in St. Sophia Cathedral.   

The history of the ancient Kyiv ends with one more important event – the storm of the town by Mongol Khan Batyi. On summer 1240 Batyi began his march to Western Europe, and Kyiv turned to be the first large town in this march. The voevode Dmytro placed himself at the head of the defense of the town, because the ruling prince Danylo Galytsky was in Galychyna that time. During this storm Lyadsky gate and the fortress of Desyanynna Church were destroyed. 

After that bloody attack of Mongols the prince Olgerd who fought with the crusaders joined Christian Kyiv and the considerable part of Ukrainian lands to Lithuania.

After Zaporizka Sich establishment, the Cossack Kyiv was released from Lithuanian oppression, and from those glorious times the epoch of Hetman Cossack power began.  

Glory of Medieval Kyiv 

In 1648 the solemn arrival of the military leader and the founder of Cossack state – hetman Bogdan Khmelnytsky to Kyiv took place. It is in Kyiv the new hetman made the decision to struggle for the new independence of Ukraine.  

In January 1654 in the town of Pereyaslav the negotiations between Ukrainian Cossack leaders headed by Bogdan Khmelnytsky and Moscow ambassadors headed by Vasyl Buturlin took place. The Pereyaslav agreement was concluded according to which Ukraine swore for the fidelity to Moscow Tsar.

The important side of the activity of Kosh of Zaporizka Sich was the organization of the ambassadors to Moscow with the purpose of the negotiation conductance concerning the unification of Ukraine with Russia. The active organizer and the initiator of this negotiation was Kyiv Metropolitan Iov Boretsky. The ruling of Polish Gentry Rzecz Pospolita on Ukrainian lands, the regime of the brutal social exploitation and religious persecution resulted in the powerful liberation struggle of Ukrainian people.

In the second half of XVI – the first half of XVII centuries there were schools at churches and monasteries in towns of Ukraine. In Kyiv the school of St. Michael Monastery was known. On October 15, 1615 the school began its activity, this school was known as Kyiv Brother School, the ancestor of Kyiv Mogyla Academy.  

Petro Mogyla, Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galychyna and all Russ, founded this school basing on the blessing of the noble Kyiv woman from Polish Gentle family of Volyn - Galshka Gulevychivna who granted her house with the land for the foundation of the monastery and school for children of “Russ Orthodox people”.  

The Brother School received the great support from the hetman of Zaporizky Army Petro Konashevych-Sagaydachny. The next hetmans of Ukraine continued this tradition to support Kyiv Brother School, in particular, Ivan Petryzhytsky, Bogdan Khmelnytsky, Ivan Samoylovych, Ivan Mazepa, etc. The Collegium was named after Petro Mogyla – Kyiv Mogyla Collegium (Academy).   

In the first half of XVIII century such persons that later became prominent figures of the science and culture studied in Academy – Kostyantyn Schepin, Andrew Denysov, Michel Lomonosov. The library of Kyiv Collegium was unique one; it was formed during two centuries and replenished at the expense of the purchases and receipts from the publishing houses of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Hale, Berlin, Bratislava, Dazing, Warsaw, London, Paris, Bologna and other towns.  

Kyiv of XIX – beginning of XX centuries

The great fire occurred on July 9, 1811, in Podil, where up to now the first Kyiv higher educational institute is situated. The flame destroyed a great number of the architecture relics of Kyiv, a great number of the buildings were damaged, but through the common efforts of the people and the municipal authorities Academy was restored. After this fire the ancient Podil district of Kyiv suffered much times from the natural disasters.    

In two years in a row (1844 and 1845) Kyiv residents suffered from unusual high waters of the Dnipro. The high water of 1845 was the most terrible. During this unprecedented flood the water rose to 7.5 m over the usual level, it sank all Podil and two quarters of Ploska settlement.    

In XIX century the new Kyiv fortress was erected for the better town fortifying of the town, and the complex of the defensive, military and administrative constructions in Pechersk district founded at the beginning of XVIII century got the name of Old Fortress.

Besides Kyiv Mogyla Academy, Kyiv, being the large cultural center and the old center of the historic and architectural heritage, demanded the foundation of other higher educational institutions as well. On November 8, 1833, after the long negotiations the Russian Imperator Nikolay I signed the decree on the foundation the University in Kyiv. Soon the University Statute was approved, and on July 15, 1834, the solemn opening of St. Volodymyr University took place.   

Unfortunately, in 1835 the variant of German or Magdeburg Law that Kyiv had enjoyed since the end of XV century was abolished.

In 1837 the new plan of the town was made with the participation of Vikentiy Beretti, the architect of Kyiv University, where the architect used creatively the town building principles of the classicism for the complex Kyiv relief. For the first time the separate parts of the town – Podil, Pechersk and Ancient Kyiv – were united in the integrated structure and “connected” at Kreschatyk that together with Olexandrivska and Velyka Vasylkivska streets became the main planning core of the town. 

In XIX century the development of Kyiv is characterized with the considerable growth of its economy and trade. While in the first quarter of XIX century there were several small enterprises (wine distilling plants, water mills, monastery manufactures) where 820 workers were employed, in the middle of XIX century 59 plants and 14 factories worked where 6 thousand people were employed. The handicraft and craft production got the wide development as well.   

All this stimulated the expansion of the trade ties of Kyiv with other towns. Seven fairs were conducted in the capital annually. The largest of them was Contract Fair that beginning from 1798 took place from January 15 up to February in Podil. Up to 10 thousand noblemen and merchants arrived here for the conclusion of contracts. The square where this fair took place now has the name “Kontraktova”. 

The number of Kyiv population in XIX century increases quickly: in 1817 there were more than 23 thousand of the inhabitants, in 1840 there were 44 683 inhabitants, and in 1861 there were 65 thousand inhabitants. The population increased most of all at the expense of the peasants that arrived to the capital to earn money. This time many religious, scientific, philanthropic and commercial unions were founded, that evidenced on the development of the public life of the capital.

Such quick expanding of the town was stimulated considerably by the fact that since the 70th years the correct ways of the railway connection of Kyiv with other towns were opened. In 1870 the sanctification of Mariinsky Palace in Lypky and amazingly long and skillfully constructed bridge over the Dnipro took place. Since this year the new Municipal Statute was assumed according to which the town regulating and management were entrusted to Duma and Board being selected by the inhabitants of the capital.  

At the beginning of XX century Kyiv was famous as the historic and scientific center of the world significance and the center of Ukrainian national culture. Here the most valuable relics of architecture, history, painting and literature that had been created during many millenniums and are the countless spiritual treasure of all Ukrainian people, are concentrated.

On the Verge of Centuries 

The capital of the independent Ukraine is the large business, political and culture center. The unique complex of the most important branches of the industry, the majority of the leading establishments of the National Academy of Sciences are concentrated in it, a great number of the educational academies, universities, higher educational institutions and secondary special institutions, exhibitions and museums are situated and work here.

This golden cultural and life heritage of Kyiv was accumulated in its treasure houses during many centuries, but the most important contribution in the history of the modern Ukrainian capital is the events of the glorious XX century.    

At the beginning of XX century Kyiv as before belonged to the powerful industrial centers. 122 industrial enterprises worked in the town, among which the largest are Southern Russian Machine Building Plant, “Arsenal”, Kyiv Railway Shops, the Plant of the Joint Stock Company “Greter & Kryvanyk” that produced the iron casts, boilers and reservoirs. Kyiv retained its importance as the large all-Russian industrial center of the agricultural products processing.   

The economy of the town was developed considerably during the industrialization of the country. In Kyiv it was in the form of the reconstruction of the machine building plants, its transfer to the manufacturing of the new kinds of the products.

In the first days of Great Patriotic War the industry evacuation to the East of Ukraine was begun, the equipment of almost 200 plants was taken out; at the new place these plants began the production quickly for the front demands.  

During the Nazi occupation of Kyiv of 1941 – 1943 the Communist and Komsomol underground developed its activity, it was headed by M. Rudeshko. In the first days of the occupation the underground members performed the diversions: they blew up the premises of Kyiv-Goods station, the main shops of Steam-Engine-Repair plant, other objects; in October they disabled several shops of Clothes factory named after M. Gorky and Knitted-Goods factory named after R. Luxemburg.    

At the finishing stage of Kyiv defense the Soviet troops in their retreat to East disabled the power stations, water main, and blew up all bridges over the Dnipro. The fascist occupation of Kyiv was finished in the night before November 6, 1943, when the red flags were raised over the buildings of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine at Mikhaylovsky square and the Council of People’s Commissars (the modern address is 12 Grushevsky street).

The same day Moscow saluted to the liberators of Kyiv with 24 volleys from 324 cannons. 65 formations and units that had been especially distinguished themselves in the fights for Kyiv were awarded with the honorable name of Kyiv. 418 thousand of the fighting men and commanders of Red Army were killed during the liberation of Kyiv.

The memory about the liberators is immortalized in the many monuments, street names, museums. There are the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the tombs of 34 heroes of the defense and liberation of Kyiv that are situated in Park of Eternal Glory, memorial museum and diorama “Lutizhsky Place of Arms” in the village of Novi Petrivtsi near Kyiv, the monument on the tomb of M. Vatutin, General of the Army, the memorial sign for Czech and Slovak fighting men, the monument for Polish anti-aircraft gunners, the monument for the tank men, etc.  

After the war during 1940 – 1980 years the functioners of the Union of Painters of Ukraine on the order of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Ukraine persecuted the formalists, cosmopolites, impressionists, nationalists, aesthetes, etc. The best painters A. Petryvsky, Volodymyr Kostetsky, Zinoviy Tolkachov, Tetyana Yablonska, the art critics Borys Lobanovsky, Zinoviy Fogel and many others were subject to the public defaming and ostracism.

Since 1960th beyond the official sphere, in the underground style the arts corresponding to the tendencies of XX century were formed. The refined French-Ukrainian color was revived in the works of the former Parisian Mykola Gluschenko. The new generation of so called Shestydesyatnyky (persons of the 60th years) created the variety of the styles being neglected in our country: expressionism, phonism, surrealism. The participants of the circle united around the collection of the folklore arts of Ivan Gonchar (V. Zaretsky, G. Yakutovych) introduced the decorative new folklore features to the paining and graphic arts. The generation of the 1970th created the new trend – hyperrealism. Its founders are Sergey Bazilev and Sergey Geta. 

The underground appeared on the surface in 1987, when Union of Painters organized the exhibition of the young painters. It was the wave of the postmodernism that is actual at the beginning of XXI century as well. The abolition of the censorship and the opening of the inter-state borders resulted in the fact that during 1990th postmodernist works became known in the international scale for the first time since the 1920th.

Soros Center of Modern Arts helps Kyiv painters to be included in the world coordinate system, it organizes the exhibitions of the modern foreign and Ukrainian arts. 

The post war period provided the new achievements and new recognizing of the vocal and choreography arts of Kyiv. In particular, the Theater of Opera and Ballet named after T. Shevchenko in 1968 was awarded with Order of the Red Banner of Labor. Now this theater has the status of the National Theater. 

The new theaters and ensembles appeared. In 1960 Art and Sportive Ensemble “Ballet on Ice” was established. In 1982 Children Musical Theater (now – Musical Theater for Children and Young People) was founded, in 1989 Kyiv Theater of Classic Ballet under the guidance of Valeriy Kovtun was founded. At the end of 1980th and the beginning of the 1990th the chamber theaters of the plastic drama of the various tendencies appeared. 

Now Ukrainian Musical Academy (Conservatory) and Glier Musical School provide the vocal education. Choreography School provides the education for ballet-dancers.

The international cinema festivals are conducted in Kyiv – “Molodost”-/Youth/ (of debut and student movies), “Stozhatry” (of actor arts), “Krok” /Step/ (of animation movies), “Fast Fest Weekend” (of student works) and national festivals. The first cinema demonstration in Kyiv took place on December 14, 1896, at Mykola Solovtsov theater at the address: 5 Fundukleevska street (now Bogdan Khmelbytsky street).  

After Ukraine received its independence in spite of the considerable economic and social difficulties its capital remains the important physical culture and sportive center. There are 29 stadiums, 43 swimming pools, 636 sportive halls and almost 1200 other sportive structures.

In the end of the 1980th – the beginning of 1990th a great number of new scientific institutions were founded or revived. Among them there are Institute of International Relations and Politic Science, Institute of Ukrainian Archeology named after M. Grushevsky, etc. It contributed to the study of new subjects, the search and inclusion in the scientific circulation of the documents and materials of Ukrainian and foreign depositories.

Ukrainian scientists worked successfully in the branch of the precise and nature sciences. As before, they occupy the leading positions in the material science, electric welding, new cosmic technologies.

Due to these, the most valuable achievements of the cultural and scientific activity of Ukrainian people, Kyiv constantly expands and strengthens its political, scientific and engineering, economic, social and cultural ties with other states of Europe and the world.