Church known as site of Shevchenko funeral services is rebuilt

Religious Information Service of Ukraine

KYIV - The once-destroyed Church of the Nativity of Christ on Kyiv's Postal Square, famous as the site of funeral services for renowned Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko in 1861, has been rebuilt.

It was re-consecrated on January 14 by Patriarch Filaret, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kyiv Patriarchate. Ukraine's President elect Viktor Yushchenko, Kyiv Mayor Oleksander Omelchenko and National Deputy Ivan Pliusch participated in the ceremony.

Mr. Yushchenko said in his speech that "Today, Ukrainians should not only speak of unity within the borders of the country, but of unity in spirit, history and values." Mentioning the history of the Church of the Nativity of Christ, he said that "there were attempts to erase this page of history, as many others, from our memory. But what is not preserved cannot become history."

At the end of his speech, Mr. Yushchenko thanked all who were involved with the church's renovation, and presented the church with three ancient icons. The first mention of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Kyiv dates back to 1520. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1717, with funds from Mayor Roman Tykhonovych. The construction of a new church in the same place began in 1744, with the old one continuing to function as part of the new one for almost 40 years. However, this church, too, was ruined by fire.

Construction of a new classical church began in 1809, architect Andrii Milenskyi. The church was painted in 1814, after which it was active for over 100 years until it was demolished in 1935 because it stood in the way of constructing a government center on St. Michael's Hill.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 6, 2005, No. 10, Vol. LXXIII

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