St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv

The cathedral of St. Sophia belongs to the most prosperous period of Kyivan Rus and is a relic of the 11^th century architecture. The name of the cathedral, ‘Sophia’, comes from the Greek “wisdom”. Consecrated to the “wisdom of Christ’s teaching”, the cathedral would firmly establish Christianity and the rule of the feudal princes in Rus.

As the main metropolitan church of Rus, St. Sophia Cathedral was the community and cultural centre of the state. It was here that the coronation ceremony was performed to anoint and crown; it was here that foreign ambassadors were received; here the Kyiv veche was held, before the cathedral walls; here the chronicles were written, for Yaroslav the Wise established at St. Sophia the first library and scriptorium in Old Rus.

St Sophia’s walls are ornamented with 11^th century mosaics and frescoes. Mosaics decorate the chancel and the central cupola. These images represent the main personages in the Christian religion and are arranged strictly according to ‘religious hierarchy’ and correspond to the hierarchy of feudal society.

On the concha is the gigantic mosaic of the Virgin Orans, the Madonna in prayer. It dominates all the murals within the cathedral’s interior, and about six metres high. The Virgin stands with raised hands on a broad platform ornamented with precious stones. Mary wears a dark blue robe and a crimson mantle whose folds are edged with gold. Her shoes are red. A startling white fringed kerchief is draped over the red girdle round her waist. This mosaic of the Virgin Orans is full of grandeur, of unique monumental form and rich colouring.

Agree or disagree:

1. Yaroslav the Wise named the cathedral “Sophia” in his own honour.

2. The Kyiv cathedral was an imitation of the Byzantine one.

3. The cathedral was a centre of the political and cultural life in Rus.

4. The cathedral was richly decorated with frescoes.

5. the Virgin Orans is shown in the process of praying.

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