WHERE WILL STAKHANOV-STYLE RESTORATION LEAD?

Comparing the project to that of St. Michael's Cathedral, workers say it will take much more work and the deadline is 2000. Hence the construction rate. So far no one is made to work at night and they hope to lay the foundations and finish the lower section of the structure this winter. Not surprisingly, the project coordinator, carried away with the Stakahanov shock-work tempo reminiscent of the feverish Stalinist five year plans, forgot to get permission from UNESCO, which could result in striking the monastery from the UNESCO lists of the world's most precious historic sites. The capital's state administration explains that this a mere formality and that a fax approving the project is expected from the UNESCO headquarters any day.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction project's shock-work tempo impedes detailed archaeological studies of ancient burial sites on the grounds. As it is, every trench dug by archaeologists is filled in a day or two later. This summer excavations revealed five burial vaults that are now being scrutinized. Another such vault, long known to researchers as the family burial of the Ostrozhsky princely family, was buried under sand several days after being unearthed. The monastery's clergy was outraged.

EXPERT COMMENTARY

Valentyn Irshenko,
Executive Director, Oles Honchar Ukrainian Foundation for the Restoration of Outstanding Monuments:

"We are deeply concerned about the crash approach to the Dormition Cathedral project. When restoration drilling began in the 1980s, nearby structures started running cracks and foundation shifts were recorded. Now the Kyiv state administration is busy with the project without paying heed to the anxiety voiced by UNESCO.

"Once saints were buried under the Dormition Cathedral, now their remains are being removed, denying the Lavra its spiritual foundations. A hastily organized contest chose the most expensive (Hr 150 million) and most barbarian reconstruction project. It stipulates driving concrete metal-cased piles through the old foundations. Mr. Omelchenko said, 'these aren't piles, just nails.' Under the circumstances the Lavra may not live to see the 2,000th birth anniversary of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, there will be a typical Soviet-style haphazard construction project pompously commissioned, to fall apart a while later, as experts are not sure that the piles will bear the cathedral's weight without upsetting the groundwater flow. In fact, the project is not even officially approved, but construction is underway."

Volodymyr Lenchenko,
member of the Architects' Union of Ukraine:

"This project was adopted by a jury comprised of bureaucrats, not experts. It does not take into account the specifics of the monastery's subterranean structure. They rejected a proposal to restore the cathedral slowly, by stages, using small-time technologies, allowing the archaeologists and other researchers time to work on the site. The approach adopted is especially dangerous in the burial sector and demolition area where the ground is very unstable. Officials of the organizations interested in this project bypassed all advisory bodies and started restoration work immediately. They seem to ignore the fact that we must not only rebuild but also preserve things of historical value. As it is, the project is yet another example of contract laboring aimed at earning a quick buck and the hell with what happens afterward.

RESIDENTS' COMMENTARY

Yaroslav M., precinct inspector:

"I agree with what a US politician said: when people have nothing to eat and the authorities build such cathedrals and at such rate, it can only mean bleeding the budget and exacerbating the people's misery. Although, from a global standpoint, I think that cathedrals should be built and restored, because they help preserve our spirituality and preserve sanctity."

Tetiana, a housewife:

"Of course, they should build churches, but not the way they did the Church of the Mother of God of Pyrohoshcha in Podil or St. Michael's bell tower. Outwardly they look good, but there is nothing worth looking at inside. A house of God must look beautiful, inside and out. It may be expensive, but it will stand for centuries on end. The Egyptians took their time building pyramids. This cost staggering money and meant back-breaking toil, yet there they are. Now I wouldn't be surprised if the churches being built our way topple after several years. Each such religious structure conceals a lot of political ambition."

Mykhailo, student at Polytechnic Institute:

"I doubt that this is a good thing. The time is not right. My friends and fellow students are all against it. A lot of money vanishes from the budget and there is no progress. Besides, from what I hear the entire Lavra Monastery could suffer because of this construction."

Nina, second group invalid:

"They should not be in such a hurry with the project. They should build is slowly but surely. There would always be jobs, which is important considering our unemployment, the quality would be good, and everybody would be happy.

"Now why all this crash effort? They break down a section of the ancient wall to make access for a tower crane and pile up huge mounds of waste by the monastery garden, covering the Refectory's frescoes with construction dust. And the vibration! It causes fresh cracks and shifts. What purpose does all this haste serve? To elevate our spirituality?"