Message to descendants

The organizers say it is the first time ever that the conservation area hosts an exhibition of this magnitude! Let us remind the reader that this newspaper declared 2013 to be the Year of Volodymyr Monomakh, as 2013 marks the 900th anniversary of Monomakh’s enthronement in Kyiv and 960 years since his birth. As we know from the history of Kyivan Rus’-Ukraine, Monomakh (1053-1125) enjoyed a well-deserved respect and authority. He is known for his victories over the Cumans and concern about the preservation of peace among his fellow princes. The ruler was the first to introduce standards of fair trial and social reforms. He managed to maintain political unity of Ancient Rus’ over his 12-year-long reign. Being an avid connoisseur of book culture, Monomakh was an author himself. His Instruction for My Children is more than just a piece of advice from a wise man, city builder and statesman, as it is a report of sorts to his descendants, too.

The exhibition contains materials from the collections of the Archaeological Museum and Kyiv Archaeology Center as well as research collections of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine’s Institute of Archaeology, the National Historical and Architectural Conservation Area “Ancient Chernihiv,” Tarnovsky Chernihiv History Museum, and the National Conservation Area “St. Sophia of Kyiv.”

The project aims to promote the unique historical and cultural monuments created in Ukraine during Kyivan Rus’ era. The exhibition tells the story of prominent princes, including epic heroes such as Monomakh, significant historical events, and general society’s development, revealing the country’s cultural progress features as shown by its literature, arts, architecture, and everyday life.

Weapons of the 11th to 13th century are on display, too, as well as Ancient Rus’s first currency, hryvnia, which circulated in the 9th through 11th century, and archaeological finds from excavations at the site of the Tithes Church, Kyiv’s first stone shrine. The exhibits include also unique Kyivan Rus’ antiquities, including liturgical vessels, reliquary crosses, and cross necklaces.

A significant part of the exhibition is a collection of copied monumental painting pieces (mosaics, murals) from Ancient Rus’ churches which are now preserved at St. Sophia of Kyiv, the copying having started back in the 19th century.

Another interesting division is dedicated to monuments of Kyivan Rus’s material culture which reflect the everyday life and crafts of the era. These include wooden and earthenware, trade goods, and ancient jewelry pieces, including women’s jewelry. A separate set of finds allows the viewer to imagine a wide variety of games which adults and children played then.

The exhibition is supplemented by modern reconstructions of the epoch’s everyday clothing and military arms and armor, coming from the private collections of Kyivan Rus’ Park, Ltd. and Ruslan Anysenko. Around 700 exhibits of this sort occupy six exhibition halls in the listed 18th century building of the Monastery Bakery.

White roses have been planted on the conservation area’s grounds. They are of Anne de Kiev variety, which was bred in France and named in honor of Anna Yaroslavna, the Queen of France and a daughter of the Grand Prince of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise.