St. Volodymyr's (Volodymyrsky) Cathedral
The Cathedral is dedicated to the memory of the Great Prince Volodymyr who baptized Rus and was canonized for this deed. It has been built for 20 years through free-will donations. In its designing took part architects I. Schtrom, P. Sparro, R. Bemhardt, K. Mayevsky, V. Nikolayev. The final design belonged to 0. Beretti. The Cathedral was completed in 1882, but its ceremonial consecration took place in August 1896 when the paintings were finished.
Built in the Russian-Byzantinesque style, the temple is- executed as a monument glorifying the Old Rus epoch and its national traditions. In plan, it is a traditional old-Russian six-piered three-apsed temple crowned by seven cupolas. The height to the cross of the main dome is 49 m. the entrance door is adorned with relief bronze sculptures of Princess Olha (sculptor R. Bakh) and Prince Volodymyr (sculptor H. Zaieman) against a blue background.
The paintings are executed by a group of famous artists . V. Vasnetsov, M. Nesterov, P. Svedomsky, V. Kotarbinsky, M. Pymonenko, V. Zamyrailo, S. Kostenko, M.Vrubel - under the guidance of Professor A.Prakhov.
The paintings made by V. Vasnetsov on the nave exhibit emotional strength and colour saturation. The austere sadness and resoluteness in the beautiful eyes of the Holy Mother of God, foreseeing inevitable sufferings of Her Son and His death on the cross - Her monumental representation in the altar apse is a compositional centre of the picturesque ensemble of the Cathedral. Of great interest are his historical compositions: "The Baptism of Volodymyr" and "The Baptism of Kyivans".
St. Volodymyr's Cathedral is the mother-church of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate.