Zaborovsky Gate, Baroque gate at Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Ukraine.
The Zaborovsky Gate is a Baroque portal at Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, designed with white stone blocks, Corinthian capitals, and ornate mascarons. The structure features detailed acanthus leaf ornaments and was built to provide access to the complex of the former metropolitan residence.
The gate was built between 1746 and 1748 under the direction of Metropolitan Rafail Zaborovsky with architect Johann Gottfried Schädel, serving as the entrance to the residence complex. It endured through the centuries and underwent major redesign work in the 1920s.
The gate represents Ukrainian Baroque style and functions as the principal entrance to the grounds of the former metropolitan residence. Its decoration reflects the importance this site once held for church leadership.
The gate is located within the National Sanctuary complex at Saint Sophia Cathedral and is accessible daily. Visitors can explore it as part of a larger tour through the historical buildings and courtyards of the site.
During restoration in the 1920s, architect Vasyl Krychevsky fundamentally altered the original passage design by replacing the open way with a solid wall. This transformation permanently changed how the entrance functioned.
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