The National Sanctuary Complex "Sophia of Kyiv" (Ukrainian: Національний заповідник «Софія Київська») is a historic preserve that contains a complex of museums in Kyiv and Sudak and responsible for maintenance and preservation of some of its most precious historic sites.

List of landmarks in the complex

Kyiv

• Complex of Saint Sophia Cathedral, prime landmark
• Golden Gates, part of Sophia of Kyiv since 1983
• St. Cyril's Monastery, created in 1929, was transferred to Sophia of Kyiv in 1965
• St Andrew's Church, part of All-Ukrainian Historic Site 1935, it was transferred to Sophia of Kyiv in 1939 and 1968

Crimea

• Sudak fortress, created in 1371–1460, became a part of Sophia of Kyiv in 1958

History

In 1934, by the order of the authorities of the Soviet Ukraine, the creation of the cultural preserve (sanctuary) at the site of the Saint Sophia Cathedral likely saved one of the holiest sites in Eastern Europe from destruction during the Soviet-wide anti-religious campaign of the early 1930s. The preserve was established in place of the cathedral of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church that was dissolved in 1930. The museum's responsibilities were gradually expanded to other historic locations of Kyiv.

In 1994, the sanctuary was accorded its current status as being National.

Both St. Andrew and St. Cyril churches are acting. The first church belongs to the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, while the other belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and is part of the revived St. Cyril's Monastery.

See also

• List of historic reserves in Ukraine

References

• Sophiakievska.org: official Sophia of Kyiv website—(in English)
• Kateryna Shchotkina, "An ordinary date of Sophia", Zerkalo Nedeli (The Mirror Weekly), October 16–22, 2006, in Russian, in Ukrainian.

50°27′00″N 30°31′00″E / 50.4500°N 30.5167°E / 50.4500; 30.5167