To listen to the MUSICAL accompaniment to this page, click on the GLOBE above  A TRAVEL TO KIEV MAY 2009
The Magnificent City of Kiev
Beautiful Kiev is the capital of the independent State of Ukraine. In the Russian language, Ukraine means borderland. It is located on the mighty Dnieper River, which, to the worldwide traveler, appears, at some locations, similar to the Mississippi River in the United States of America.
Kiev forms also the industrial heartland of the Ukraine. During its early history (882), it served as the capital for the Russian grand dukes. In the year 889 the city was recognized as the intellectual center of Russia, the result of the efforts of St. Vladimir. The Mongols destroyed Kiev in 1240. Approximately 80 years later it fell to Lithuania and when that grand duchy joined with the Kingdom of Poland, it also became an integral part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. During the timeframe 1654-1667, Kiev and its surrounding areas were absorbed by Czarist Russia. After 1917, this special city served for the first time in the 20iest century as capital of an independent Ukraine. On 24 August 1991, Kiev and the Republic of Ukraine celebrated their first Independence Day after a peaceful separation from the Russian Federation, the former Soviet Union.
Because it is outright impossible to do justice to the historical bouquet of Kiev, especially since we spent only five days there, we decided to concentrate chiefly on a few of its most splendid churches. Regardless if large or small, they all looked divine to us. In this regard, we must pay tribute to St. Olga. She was the widow of Prince Igor, who was killed in 945, while attempting to exact particularly heavy tribute from a Slavic tribe.
Thereafter she acted as Princess Regent on behalf of her son Sviatoslav.
In 957, Princess Olga visited Constantinople where she was lavishly received by Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus. It was during her stay in Constantinople that, according to the Russian Chronicle, Olga embraced Eastern Christianity. Although the sequence of events leading up to her conversion is contested, the fact remains, however, that she and Prince Vladimir I (her grandson who had managed to gain the upper hand against his brother, Yaropolk I) had successfully repudiated heathenism and established Greek Orthodoxy as the firm, official Church of Russia. This phenomenon also inspired architecture of obvious Greek origin that had an impact on the construction of official government buildings. Returning to Sts Vladimir and Olga, they were both canonized and rest today in glass sarcophagi within the Cathedral of St. Sophia.
Our walking tour through old, historic Kiev was planned and conducted by Miss Oksana Morozova, currently a senior English scholar at the National Ukrainian Aviation University in Kiev. Oksana is a strikingly beautiful young lady of delicate features, who is not just attractive, but also exceedingly intelligent. She speaks Ukrainian, Russian, German and English. Her parents, teachers and professors can be rightfully proud of her personal and intellectual development. We were extremely happy that good fortune assigned her as our guide and companion.
The people of Kiev were always very kind and accommodating to us. To satisfy the curiosity of a dear and good friend of ours, we inquired about the present-day linguistic situation in the Republic of Ukraine. Oksana and a university professor, we met later on during our stay in Kiev, indicated that 40 percent of the population speak Russian, 40 percent speak Ukrainian and 20 percent speak a mixture of both, which is known as "Surzhyk."
Although the sun eventually assumes the highest point of its orbit over the city, not all residential "nooks and crannies" attain full-daylight exposure. Yet, they look picturesque.
While the facade of the Dnipro Hotel projects a rather business-like impression, its interior design and appearance are elegant and comfortable.
Not too distant from our hotel was the Dynamo Kiev Stadium complex
Just in case, the hotel ran out of coffee, one could easily walk a small distance around the corner and purchase a cup of "black gold" from a Starbucks-like coffee shop.
Those in need of spiritual comfort could climb the hill right behind the Lenin Cultural Center and visit the Church of Alexander. The street leading to this picturesque house of worship is long and steep enough to recall all one's sins over the last five years.
Once on top of said hill, a vast and abundantly green park welcomes its visitors to an exquisite view over the left and right banks of the powerful Dnieper River.
Following the rim of the Dnieper River overlooking hillside, one eventually arrives at the Republic of Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Like so many public buildings in Kiev, the entrance arcade is mostly ornamented by Greek-style columns, which made at least these visitors think of Kiev as the Athens on the Dnieper.
Entrance to the Defense Department of the Republic of Ukraine. The guards were not necessarily pleased with our attempt to photograph them.
Army General Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin was the Commander-in-Chief of the 1st Ukrainian front during the Great Patriotic War (World War II), where he earned the distinction of Hero of the Soviet Union.
The Parliament Building, housing the Legislature of the Ukrainian Republic.
This edifice, too, very much like so many other public buildings we had the
opportunity to see, exhibits Greek-type columns, among other things espousing to the Greek political philosophy that the people should rule.
There is no doubt in our minds that Oksana made the heart of this teenage cadet beat a little bit higher. The commandant of cadets has his watchful eyes everywhere.
Professor Galyna Suslova in conversation with Margravine Heide and Margrave Paul. Professor Suslova currently serves as the National Coordinator of ICAO Standards Implementation, ICAO Expert and Acting Director of ICAO European Regional Aviation Security Training Centre, which is colocated with the National Aviation University in Kiev. After Oksana's successful university study completion, she now works for Professor Suslova.
After ballroom dining, wining and dancing, a river cruise the next day serves well to clear one's mind and senses.
And, again, an inviting spread of good food and fine drinks welcomes the river-tour passengers.
Once the food and the wine had been enjoyed, only song and dance by fascinating and colorful Sinti and Roma performers could save a day that for apparent purposes was gloomy and gray.
Everywhere one looks, new housing developments are springing up, whereby the spiritual element is not neglected, we were happy to note.
Throughout our article, we offered ever-so-slight hints on the democratization of the Republic of Ukraine. On our last day in Kiev, we photographed from our hotel window a rather sizeable demonstration. The reason for demonstrating is not really important. Noteworthy, however, is the negligible police presence. Law enforcement seemed to have not been a great necessity, as the demonstrators behaved themselves in a democratically civilized manner, indicating their cultured and impeccable behavior. We have no intention of sounding patronizing in any way, we like our readers to understand. Obviously, the spirit of democracy has taken deep and enduring roots in Ukraine. Congratulations to all concerned!
Already from the river boat, we noted a gigantic angel-like statue in the distance. We never came near enough to really investigate what it was and what it meant.
All rights reserved • Copyright © 2006-2008 by Commodore Dr. Paul Margrave Gulgowski-Doliwa • |
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