Last Full Day in Ukraine
May 21st, 2008 by John
St Sophia Cathedral, Kiev
Yesterday I walked approximately seven miles with Maksim Rakovich, my host and guide in Kiev. We visited the upper and lower city of old Kiev. Maksim gave me a very informative overview of Kiev’s history as well as a fascinating tour to some of the most significant sites. We visited the Orthodox churches–St Sophia’s, St Michael’s, the Tithe Church excavation, the Kiev Cave Monastery, the Parliament building, the president’s palace, St Andrew’s descent, and I saw stone idols of the pagan religion of Ukraine before Christianity came. I saw a Cossack descendent playing a bondura–an original Ukrainian guitar-like instrument. In St Sophia’s I saw some of the most striking frescos and iconography (no picture taking allowed). At Kiev Cave Monastery, in the catacombs, carrying a skinny lighted candle for illumination, I saw corpses of dead saints wrapped in burial clothes. Also, there was an amazing museum of archeological artifacts at the Cave Monastery.
For lunch I had Chicken Kiev in downtown Kiev near Independence Square.
Today, my last full day this trip, we will go to a village that replicates the history and culture of the various regions of Ukraine. Lena, Maksim’s wife, will be our guide. An American missionary couple are going with us. Then, this afternoon we will visit the orphange ministry of Maksim and Lena’s church.
Popularity: 7% [?]
What an awesome way to end your two weeks in Ukraine. Thank you Maxsim and Lena for hosting John on his spectacular tour. I’m excited to hear about the orphanage ministry, too. Can’t wait to see you on Friday, John!
Julie
Julie,
Koneshna! (Of course!) Max and Lena say “Hello.” We had a fine day at the Ukraine folk culture and history outdoor museum. We came home and napped and now we’re going to the orphanage. It rained a little and cooled down.
See you tomorrow.
John
Welcome back. Ukraine is such a wonderul culture, complex and so receptive. I spent time in 03 there and I plan to go back… soon I hope.
Taranka.. that is the name. I have called it many things as I was up at night shall I say… reliving the experience. I got duped into eating a whole one… not so very tasty. Bring on the Lays Potatoe Chips!
Very interesting, John. Too bad we couldn’t get some pics of it. Eastern Orthodoxy is fascinating.