«St. Sophia of Kyiv»

Carving in Stone

Materials:

silver, gold, glass.

№ Н-25-01-010/1

№ Н-25-01-010/2

The St. Sophia of Kyiv Cathedral stands as the beating heart of Ukraine, a timeless sentinel of its soul. Through the centuries, it has witnessed shifting epochs, triumphs gilded with glory, and sorrows steeped in shadow. It has heard the solemn oaths of princes, the humble prayers of monks, and the echoes of countless histories. In the bas-relief sculpted by the master jewellers at the House of Lobortas, the cathedral's spirit is immortalized — a harmonious symphony of memory, an unyielding essence that bridges the legacy of the past with the promise of the future, all captured in the radiant interplay of silver and gold.

Erected during the second decade of the 11th century (1011–1018 A.D.), St. Sophia Cathedral is one of the enduring treasures of Ukraine-Rus'. It stands as one of the preeminent Christian sanctuaries of Eastern Europe, the historical centre of the Kyivan metropolitanate. Its architectural splendour, entwined with profound historical resonance, has earned its rightful place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a testament to the enduring grandeur of the St. Sophia Monastery ensemble.

A paragon of resilience and spiritual inheritance, the cathedral’s gilded domes ascend toward the heavens, ablaze with the first light of dawn, as though reflecting the flames of the lamps that once illuminated the chronicles of antiquity. Encased within its argent contours lies the saga of statehood — a luminous testament to a nation’s enduring journey.

The carved-in-stone collage is a gift replete with profound symbolism — a miniature replication of an ancient and majestic architectural masterpiece, an homage to the pivotal moments that shaped Ukraine’s statehood. It stands as a resplendent emblem of the spiritual legacy of the Ukrainian people. On Sophia Square, in the early 20th century, the Universals of the Central Rada (1917–1918) proclaimed Ukraine's aspirations, and, decades later in 1991, the All-Ukrainian People's Assembly echoed this legacy by lending its voice in support of the Act of Declaration of Independence, right at this historic site. Today, St. Sophia of Kyiv continues to embody the heart of Ukraine — a sanctuary of unwavering strength, a fount of inspiration for generations past, present, and yet to come, a beacon of the unbreakable spirit of the nation.