Pillier Sainte-Irène, Religious monument in central Kyiv, Ukraine.
Pillier Sainte-Irene stood at the intersection of Vladimirskaya and Irininskaya streets, marking where an Orthodox monastery once stood. The site preserved traces of medieval religious architecture in the heart of the city.
The original Saint Irene monastery was destroyed during an anti-religious campaign in the 1930s, with the pillar being one of the last visible remains before that time. It had been registered as a monument decades earlier, making its loss significant to the city's heritage.
The pillar honored Saint Irene and reflected the strong Orthodox traditions that shaped medieval Kyiv. It held special meaning for Yaroslav the Wise and his family, making it a sacred point in the city's spiritual landscape.
The location near major streets is accessible by public transportation and walking routes through central Kyiv. The area around the former monastery site blends into the modern city landscape.
Archaeological excavations in the 1830s uncovered the monastery's foundations, which painter Mikhail Sazhine documented as part of his studies. These records remain valuable sources for understanding the medieval religious complex that once occupied the site.
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