The Saint Sophia Cathedral was built in 11 century. It is situated in a very heart of the city. There are 260 square meters of mosaics left and 300 square meters of frescoes left through the centuries. It's impossible to find such church with so much frescoes of 11 century left. There are the monastery buildings dating from 17th century and conducted in Ukrainian baroque style around the cathedral.
The exterior of the cathedral is still the same. In the end of 18 the iconostasis appeared and in 19th century and iron floor plates. The Saint Sophia of Kiev it's a great treasuries of art, a great example of Byzantian and ancient Russian architeture.
The great huge mosaic of Saint Virgin Mary (6 meters height) in the central part of the cathedral is impressing. It is made of different stone and glass plates (about 177 different colors).
The architectural shapes and the paintings form the unique unity. Frescoes like the ornaments decorate the walls, columns and the vaults you can see there the images of the saints and Evangelic motives. Unlike the other examples of Byzantic church painting this frescoes have not only biblical and mythological but also common motives among them there are portraits of great prince Yaroslaw Mudriy and his family.
The great prince Yaroslaw Mudriy (which means wise in Russian) is an outstanding figure in the history of early Kiev Russia. In the first half of ht 11 century he ruled this great country, which occupied the significant part of Eastern Russia. It was also one of the most civilized countries in Europe. Yaroslaw adjusted the communications with other European countries. He married the Swedish princess Ingigerde. His sisters were married on members of Polish and Czech royal families, his sons were married to Byzantian and German princesses and daughters were married to kings of France, Hungary and Norway. Yaroslaw The wise has laid the foundation of St. Sophia Cathedral.
The paintings on the Cathedral's belfry represent scenes from the games organized in Constantinople by emperor Konstantin Porfirogenet in honor of the Russian princess Olga. On frescos mimes, jugglers, musicians, dancers, trainers, races of chariots are represented.
The later frescoes (17th -19th century) Áîëåå ïîçäíèå ôðåñêè ñîáîðà (17-19 âåêîâ) are devoted only to religious subjects. The ancient graffitis on the Cathedrals walls (about 300) show the high level of education in Kiev Russia of 11 century.
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