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East Orthodox Centre
Kyiv – Pechersk Lavra – Great Monastery with caves
It is the monastery which made Kyiv the “Rome” of Orthodox Christianity. Pilgrims from European countries have been going there for many centuries. Its territory occupies 28 ha, and contains either churches, towers and underground caves system or some of Kyiv’s most interesting museums.
We advise you to visit some places of interest which are situated in the territory of Lavra:
Museum of Historical Jewels of Ukraine
Skiff’s Gold Exhibition
Museum of Miniatures | 
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Andriyivskyi Descent
There is no doubt that Andriyivskyi Descent is one of the oldest and most beloved streets of Kiev. In ancient times it linked the administrative part of the upper town with the district Podil, which was the lower town of merchants and artisans. Its steep and winding cobblestones are a traditional place for outdoor festivals and concerts, and there are numerous intriguing art galleries and museums in this street.
Golden GatesGolden Gates is one of the few surviving monuments of Kyiv which were constructed in ancient times. The Golden Gate was erected in 1017 in the Upper Town, it is also known as Old Kyiv.
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Maidan Nezalezhnosti
Kyiv’s central square has recently undergone great changes, either its underground part or its external aspect has been reconstructed. And now this street looks like a big greenhouse, it is not a botanical complex but a big shopping centre which is called Globus. At least it’s no longer October Revolution Square with a big Lenin statue as it was in the Soviet times. Now Maidan is well-known all over the world due to the events of the Orange Revolution. Then, in 2004 the city of Kyiv was in the headlines of the newspapers of the world. When you walk through Maidan and Khrechatyk, just imagine the whole square and streets overcrowded with people and tents decorated in orange colour.
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Mariyins’kyi Palace
Not far from Maidan Nezalezhnosti a special building, which is the official residence of the President Yuschenko, is situated. It is a beautiful blue- and cream-colored palace with a wonderful park. The scenic route to the palace starts from the arch of Ukrainian and Russian reunification near European Square and continues up the stairs and along the shady park. It was called in honor of the Russian Empress Maria, the wife of Tsar Alexander II. The palace was built in 1755 and excellently combines elements of Ukrainian and Russian Baroque styles. It seems the Summer Palace in St. Petersburg, and it is true - they were designed by the same architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who was also responsible for the St. Andrew’s Church construction.
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Church of St. Andrew
A famous Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli was the creator of the Baroque church, which is situated at the top of Andriivskyi uzviz. It was built in 1754. This church is few buildings in Kyiv that avoided serious damages or reconstructions. It is easy to see elegant building of the church and five lesser cupolas from Podil and beyond. As a legend says, that apostle Andrew – the first Christian who visited Kyiv Rus, built the saint cross the shore of the river.
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Cathedral of Saint Michael
Cathedral of St. Michael is situated at the top of the funicular and also is located in a short walk from Cathedral of St. Andrew. Originally built by Prince Sviatopolk in 1108, this cathedral was destroyed by the Soviet regime in the mid-1930s under their anti-religion program. Its reconstruction was championed by ambitious Kyiv mayor Oleksander Omelchenko and completed in May 2000.
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Cathedral of Saint Sophia
The oldest church of Kiev was built in 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who incidentally rested inside. He decided to commemorate the site of the victory of Kyivan Rus over the Pechenegs (Asian nomadic tribes) and glorify of Christianity. It was named after the famous St. Sophia’s Cathedral in Constantinople, and ‘Sofia’ also means ‘wisdom’ in Greek. This majestic 13-cupola sanctuary adjoined Yaroslav’s Palace and became a holy place of worship for Kyivites as well as a political and cultural centre. Inside there are many ancient frescoes and mosaics in the church. Many of frescoes are almost a millennium old. St. Sophia’s made a huge impression on the ordinary worshippers of Kyiv. A similar impression is felt by current visitors, so strong is the sense of history. Meetings with foreign diplomats and treaty negotiations were held here, and the church kept the first library and school in Kyivan Rus.
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Serg_Turovets
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