Experts oppose reconstruction of historic Church of the Tithes (06/05/05)

Experts oppose reconstruction of historic Church of the Tithes

Religious Information Service of Ukraine

KYIV - Scholars and national deputies of Ukraine oppose another attempt by the government to reconstruct the historic Church of the Tithes - Desiatynna Tserkva - the first stone church of Kyivan Rus'. They fear that archaeological excavations planned before construction will ruin a unique architectural park on Starokyivska Hill. Absence of reliable information on what the Tithe Church looked like is another argument. A press conference on the subject was held in Kyiv on April 18.

Since the Cabinet of Ministers issued an order to conduct architectural research on the site of the historic church, which should help determine whether the church can be rebuilt, dozens of letters and addresses have come in to the responsible government committee from Ukrainian scientists, architects and historians on the inadmissibility of any attempts to reconstruct the church. So said National Deputy Mykola Zhulynskyi, head of the Subcommittee on Culture and Spirituality, at the press conference.

Dr. Zhulynskyi considers the reconstruction of the 10th century Church of the Tithes impossible and mentioned that international agreements ratified by Ukraine protect the preservation of architectural monuments. Ukrainian legislation does not recognize reconstructed buildings as architectural monuments.

"This puts us on the level of other nations that do not operate within the context of international legislation on historical and cultural heritage preservation," Dr. Zhulynskyi said.

The Church of the Tithes was the first stone church of the medieval Slavic state of Kyivan Rus'. It was constructed by Rus' and Byzantine architects from 988 to 996 and dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God at the time of Prince Volodymyr the Great. He donated one tenth of his funds for its construction and maintenance, giving the church its name. The church was ruined by Mongols in 1240, and only parts of the original foundation remain today.

Archaeological research of the site containing the remains of the foundations of the historic church, located at Volodymyrska Street in the Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv is to be completed by October 31.

The sum of 7.25 million hrv (about $1.3 million U.S.) has been allocated from state budget funds in 2005 for archaeological research and conservation work for the remains of the foundation and other possible archaeological findings, according to kievpress.info.

The reconstruction was ordered by a communal enterprise, the Direction of Restoration and Renovation Works. The enterprise will cooperate with the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy for Culture and Arts in Ukraine in the archaeological research.

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