Female monastery in Chernigov

Chernihiv is one of the most ancient towns in Ukraine, and has been affectionately described as "a land forgotten by time". It is now the administrative, economic and cultural center of the region. The city is situated on the banks of the Desna River, 141 kilometers north of Kyiv and has a population of 300,000. The history of the city goes back to the time of Old Rus, a period when monumental architecture, literature, crafts and trade flourished. It was one of the most important centers of Kyivan Rus so it is no wonder many places of historical interest are found here today. Five out of the twenty-five architectural landmarks of the 11th - 12th centuries have been preserved and are opened to the public for exploration and enjoyment.

Excursions tours in Chernigov

The sightseeing tour across Chernigov with visiting:

The “Val” (Rampart) – the central part of ancient city where monuments of old Russian architecture are left:

1. The Cathedral of the Savoir (first half of the 11-th century) – the contemporary of the Sofia cathedral in Kiev, the main Chernigov’s church based by prince Mstislav Vladimirovich ( the Brave), a tomb of the Chernigov princes and clergy. Now the church service is held in it;
2. St. Boris and Glib Cathedral (12-th century) - a tomb of the Chernigov princes;
3. The Collegium (17-th – 18-th centuries) – the first secular secondary educational institution in the Left-bank Ukraine, in which the exhibition of professional and national icon-painting is located;
4. Historical museum;
5. Art museum;
6. The museum of arts and crafts which is situated in a monument of architecture of 17 century – St. Catherine Church.
7. Regimental office.
   

The Trinity Monastery which is situated on the Boldin Hill and includes:

1. St. Anthony’s caves (11-th —18-th centuries) – one of the most ancient cave monasteries in the East Europe with the main Church of St. Elijah (12-th century) and stone underground churches of 17-19-th centuries;
2. The Cathedral of the Trinity (17-th – early 20-th centuries) – a cathedral of the Chernigov lords where relics of Chernigov’s saints Theodosia and Lavrentia are placed;
3. Burial mound complex and the Memorial of Glory are located on the Boldin Hill;
4. Barrow “A black grave”;
5. The Yeletsky Monastery.
   

Chernigov — Novgorod — Siverskiy

Novgorod-Siverskiy is a pictorial city, in which the first ingenious epos of Old Russ “The word about Igor’s regiment” was written. Here you can visit:

1. The Monastery of the Transfiguration (11-th. – 18-th. centuries), which contains the Cathedral of the Savoir (18century) is the central construction of its complex, constructed on the project of known Italian architect Dzhakomo Kvarengi;
2. The Yspensky Cathedral (18 century);
3. The Church of St. Nicholas (18 century) is a wooden church built without nail;
4. Mountain Zamkovaja;
5. The museum “The word about Igor’s regiment”.

Chernigov – Nezhin

The ancient city was first mentioned in “Chronicle” in 1078 and is famous for its architectural buildings, 70-th from which have a historical value:

1. The monument to Gogol’;
2. St. Nicholas Cathedral;
3. The Blagoveshchensk Ñathedral (men monastery);
4. Vsehsviatska Church;
5. St. Mihaylovska Church;
6. Trinity Church;
7. The museum “Post station”;
8. Gogol’s museum, picture gallery which is situated in the building of University;
9. The museum of the rare book;
10. Vedenskiy women monastery.
    

Chernigov – Kozelets

The history of its city is closely connected with the Razumovsky's family and first was mentioned in the beginning of the 17-th century. Here you can visit:

1. The Museum of weaving;
   
2. Cathedral of Our Lady birth (18-th century).

Also we offer interesting trips in reserved places of the Chernigov origion:

1. Trostyanets’ dendro-park;
2. Trostyanets -Kachanovka – palace-park ensemble;
3. Sosnitsa – A. Dovzhzhenko's museum;
4. Sednev – Shevchenko’s places, Lizogubov’s country- estates.
   

About Chernigov

Chernihiv is older than Kiev. Chernihiv was first mentioned in the year 907 A.D. Many legends and ballads are connected with the city. According to one of them, Chernihiv was named for Prince Cherniy and his daughter. Another one says it owes its name to the thick, dark, surrounding cherniy (black) forests. According to folk legend Prince Cherniy was buried in Black Burrow not too far from Boldin Hills. The name comes from the slavish word Bold (Oak-tree). There were (and still are) many oaks there, one of them being over one thousand years old. Boldin Hills in Chernihiv is probably one of the most important historical sites in this ancient city. Rising some 35 meters above the beautiful Desna River the area dominates the landscape and its importance dates back to antiquity. A sacred place for local inhabitants from pagan times forward it is nowadays preserved as one of the largest Kievian Rus burial grounds in Ukraine, consisting of over 200 burrows. The first of them appeared around the 9th or 10th centuries, and the largest graves are of the epic heroes Gulbishche and Besymiany who were the prototypes of the athlete Illya Muromets who was the defender of the Rus empire. Here in the mound, archeologists discovered the cremated remains of Gulbishche, both his riding equipment and the largest sword ever discovered in Ukraine.

During the course of the Rus Empire, Chernihiv became a center of spiritual life in Rus. In 1069 the founder of the Kiev-Pechersky monastery, monk Anthony created an underground monetary. Many hermit-monks lived in these caves for hundreds of years. In 1239 Chernigov was captured and destroyed by Tatar-Mongol invaders and in 1649 the monastery was restored by the Cossack colonel Stephan Podobailo who dubbed it his "Sky Protector". He was later killed in in 1654 in a battle for independence for Ukraine from the Poles and was buried nearby at St Illya's church. Some believe that the underground caves of the monastery can cure people of their ills, and have special medicinal qualities.

One of the most famous modern people buried here is M. Kotsubinsky who lived in Chernihiv for 15 years and died in 1915. A famous writer who like Taras Chevchenko wrote in Ukrainian is probably best known for his novel "The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors".

Chernihiv is famous for its churches, particularly those erected during the 11th and 12th centuries. The most notable of these is the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, one of the oldest churches in the Kyiv an Rus, built about 1017 by Mstyslav, the younger brother of Yaroslav the Wise. St. Katherine Church, on a hill opposite the dytynets, was completed in 1715 to commemorate the heroism of the Kazaks of Chernihiv in the storming of the Turkish fortress of Azov in 1696. There are a total of 12 old churches in Chernihiv worth exploring. It is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions and many people come here to propose and hold their marriage ceremonies in nearby Trinity Cathedral. There are three underground wooden churches on the grounds of Anthony's Caves. Two churches at the monastery are worth a visit: the Troyitsky Cathedral (1679-1695) and the 1677 Presentation church with its five-tiered bell tower.

Chernihiv is one of the greenest cities in Ukraine. In spring and summer the golden domes of the ancient churches wallow in the splendid hold of its many parks. In the fall the city becomes vibrant with color, painted as a gift by that master painter--nature herself. The wonderful combination of unique architectural monuments from the past, combined with newer, modern buildings, lend a special charm to the city that makes the city a national treasure.

Not far from Chernihiv to the north is the ancient Ukrainian village of Sedniv, situated on the snow river tributary of the Desna. It was founded in the 10th century and served as a fortress owned by a prince. At the end of the 17th century an alley of chestnuts was planted on top of a high hill overlooking the snow river. A 400 year old oak tree survives and it is a favorite place for writers and poets in Ukraine to find seclusion. Taras Chevchenko used this park for inspiration and wrote poems and drew his pictures here. There is a monument to the great Ukrainian poet in the park. There are also three churches from the 17th and 18th centuries nearby and the very first Soviet horror film was made in one of those churches. The views from the park are spectacular, overlooking picturesque meadows and small forests near the river. Many painters have come here over the ages and continue to this day.