St Volodymyr's Cathedral, Orthodox cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine
St Volodymyr's Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral in Neo-Byzantine style on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard in Kyiv, Ukraine. Seven gilded domes crown the brick construction, which rises to a height of 49 meters (161 feet).
The foundation stone was laid in 1862 to honor the 900th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus by Prince Volodymyr. Lack of funds delayed construction for decades, until the church was finally consecrated in 1882.
The name honors Prince Volodymyr, who brought Christianity to Kievan Rus and whose baptism this house of worship commemorates. Worshippers come here for prayer and veneration of relics, while the colored wall paintings depict biblical scenes that turn the space into a visual gallery.
The main church of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine houses relics of Saint Barbara and Metropolitan Macarius, which worshippers may venerate. The interior murals date from 1885 to 1896 and were created by Viktor Vasnetsov and other artists.
The central composition of the Judgment of Pilate combines Eastern iconography with Western painting techniques, creating a dialogue between two traditions. This approach was rare in Orthodox church decoration of the period.
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