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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

WHERE WILL STAKHANOV-STYLE RESTORATION LEAD?

6 October, 1998 - 00:00

Reconstruction work has begun Stakhanov-like on the site of the Dormition
Cathedral (demolished in 1941) at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery of
the Caves.

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?"

 

 

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