Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, is an outstanding architectural monument of Kievan Rus' and is inscribed in the World Heritage List. The cathedral was built on orders of Yaroslaw I the Wise in 1037-57 by Old Russian and Byzantine art masters. Saint Sophia Cathedral was religious as well as social, political and cultural center of Kievan Rus'.

The cathedral was repeatedly ravaged by Cumans, Pechenegs and Tatar Mongols. Cathedral of Saint Sophia was under jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church after the 1595-96 Union of Brest until 1633 when it was claimed by the Ukrainian Orthodox metropolitan Peter Mogila (Mohyla). Mogila commissioned restoration in distinct Ukrainian Baroque style but preserved Byzantine interior including the mosaics and frescoes of Byzantine masters from the 11th century. The restoration continued under the Cossack Hetman Ivan Mazepa and Cathedral of Saint Sofia was completed to its present form in 1740.

Soviet authorities planned to demolish Saint Sofia Cathedral in the 1920's but it was saved from destruction because of the effort of many scientists and historians. Soviet authorities confiscated the structure including the surrounding 17th-18th century architectural complex and designated it as an architectural and historical museum in 1934.

Designed as a rival to the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev symbolized the "new Constantinople" and had a great impact on the Orthodox faith in the Russian world.

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