Celebration of Baptism of Kyivan Rus Will Cost the State 47 Million Hryvnias
Forty-seven million hryvnias have been allocated for the reconstruction and restoration of several monuments in Kyiv and Chernihiv in preparation for Ukraine's celebration of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus, Minister of Culture Leonid Novokhatko said at a press conference on Wednesday, Ukrayinska Pravda reported, citing Interfax-Ukraine.
The minister said that he could not name the total amount that will be spent for the celebrations because many of the events will be free or funded by sponsors.
“From the state budget, 47 million has recently been allocated by the government. It will mainly go toward renovation, restoration, and construction work on such monuments as the Kyiv Cave Monastery, St. Sophia Cathedral, and Chernihiv’s Catherine's Church that dates from the times of Kyivan Rus,” said Novokhatko.
He said that work on the main monuments associated with the adoption of Christianity is complete or almost complete.
In particular, he noted that the Kyiv Cave Monastery’s bell tower, cells, and refectory have been repaired. He also said that work has been done on St. Michael's Cathedral, Frolovsky Convent, and St. Elijah Church in Kyiv.
The restoration work on Catherine’s Church in Chernihiv, which is even more ancient than St. Sophia Cathedral, he says, has been completed.
He also added that some reconstruction work has been completed on the monuments to Prince Volodymyr and Princess Olha in Kyiv.
He drew attention to the fact that the Kyiv government has worked to restore the Magdeburg Law Column. The minister recalled that earlier the monument was also called the "Lower Monument to the Baptism of Rus."
He said that on the whole, the celebration of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus is a good occasion to focus on restoring architectural monuments. “There is reason and logic to draw attention to Ukraine’s ancient monuments, especially in Kyiv, the place of the baptism,” he said.
The minister noted that some restoration work was carried out in virtually all regions of Ukraine.
