2015-08-21
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Pyrohovo is definitely the only place in or around Kyiv where you can get by in a matter of minutes. This picturesque open-air museum has over 150 buildings - monuments of folk architecture, material and spiritual culture of various epochs from 25 regions of Ukraine from the 16th to the 20th centuries. You'll also find wooden churches, windmills, barns, wells and even a school building typical of rural areas from recent centuries. If everything seems very authentic, it's because most of the buildings are in fact original and were moved here piece by piece. Traditional Ukrainian clothing, ceramics and farming equipment are also on display.
At holidays, especially the religious ones, the folk groups give shows and public festivals are organized. During these festivals people traditionally wear national clothes and all guests could taste Ukrainian cuisine just like in the countryside. The displays of museum give to every visitor a realistic impression of the travel in time.
ST. MICHAEL'S GOLDEN-DOMED
CATHEDRAL
Originally built by Prince Sviatopolk in 1108, this cathedral was destroyed by the Soviet regime in the mid-1930s in keeping with their anti-religious programme. In our hard times, the reconstruction of St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral is a sign of spiritual rebirth of Kiev - the cradle of Russian Christianity and all Ukraine, as a civilized European state. Its reconstruction was completed in May 2000. The sky blue exterior and glittering golden domes seem a bit too new and shiny for this ancient city and are certainly stunning. Another reminder of the Communists' inhuman policies is to the right as you exit the church. This monument is to the millions of Ukrainian victims of the Great Famine in 1932-1933. The monument is composed of a granite stone with recess made in a form of the cross and bronze effigy of Mother-Ukraine with a child. Farther out in the square, the statues of Princess Olha, Apostle Andriy, St. Cyrill and St. Methodius were also reconstructed in 1996.
