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 The remains of the Golden Gates of Kiev one of Ukraine's oldest surviving historical monuments stand in a small public park at the corner of Volodymyrska and Velyka Pidvalna Streets.
In the first half of the 11th century, the nomadic Pecheneg tribe began to attack the Ukrainian populace living in the border regions of the Ukrainian state of Kyivan Rus. And, in the year 1036, the Pechenegs approached Kyiv itself, stopping just before the city ramparts. It is said that the Ukrainian sovereign of Kyivan Rus at that time, King Yaroslav the Wise, was extremely distressed at seeing this enemy encampment just outside his great city. Knowing it would not be an easy task to rout the Pechenegs, it is said that he prayed fervently to the Blessed Virgin Mary, promising her that he would build a church in her honor if he obtained victory in the difficult battle ahead.
There was indeed a fierce battle for possession of the city of Kyiv; but, though the military might of the Pechenegs was great, King Yaroslav inflicted a devastating blow upon the army of the Pechenegs and virtually drove them off Ukrainian soil.
Since it would also be necessary to protect this new part of the city with walls and ramparts, King Yaroslav ordered the construction of new fortifications. And, through these new walls and ramparts, he also ordered the construction of a strong main gateway - the Golden Gates.
The church was ornamented with frescos, ceramics and woodcarvings. The gate itself was reinforced and decorated with metal. The entranceway could be closed off with heavy doors of oak panels bound together with sheets of gilded copper. The arch itself was crowned with notches and semicircular niches, an architectural feature peculiar to the architecture of Kyivan Rus. Outside, the structure was girded by a deep moat spanned by a drawbridge.
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