On a visit to Ukraine my brother-in-law, James Sweeney, asked me about the various monuments in the city of Kiev. For his sake and yours, I want to introduce you to a few of them.

Memorial to the founders of Kiev (Left)

This monument honors the legendary founders of Kiev: three brothers — Kiy, Schchek and Khoriv — and their sister, Lybed. They are standing in an ancient Russian ship called a “shallop.”  Legend has it that the brothers rejected the Kiev location, but Lybed prevailed.

Volodymyr the Great’s Monument (Center)

Volodymyr the Great (c. 958 –1015), or Saint Vladimir, is credited with the Christianization of Kievan Rus.  He built the first brick Christian temple in Kiev. This is where Ukrainian and Russian Orthodoxy began, not in Moscow.

Yaroslav the Wise’s Monument (Right)

Yaroslav (c. 978 –1054), son of Volodymyr the Great, was known as the Grand Prince of Novgorod and Kiev. In this scene he is holding a model of Saint Sophia’s Cathedral in his hands, the construction of which he sponsored in 1037. It stands as a symbol of Kiev and you can still visit the cathedral today.

Dr. Rich Strahm