The Church of the Savior at Berestove is one of the oldest sacred sites in Kyiv, with a thousand-year history. It stands on the territory of the ancient princely residence of Berestove, founded even before the appearance of the Pechersk Monastery. It was here, in 1015, that Prince Volodymyr the Great — the baptizer of Rus’-Ukraine — died.
The church is traditionally associated with the era of Volodymyr Monomakh. Already in the 12th century, it became the burial place of the Monomakhovych dynasty. Chronicles mention that his daughter Yefimiia, his son Yurii Dolgorukyi, and his grandson Hlib Yuriiovych were buried here.
Over its history, the church has changed many times, and this is precisely what makes it unique. Several historical eras are combined in a single structure: pre-Mongol 12th-century architecture, the reconstruction under Metropolitan Petro Mohyla, 18th-century Ukrainian Baroque, and early 19th-century Classicism.
A special place in the church’s history belongs to Petro Mohyla. In the 17th century, he restored the neglected shrine as part of a large-scale project to revive the ancient churches of Kyiv.
For the church’s murals, the metropolitan invited Greek masters, who brought to Kyiv the grand post-Byzantine tradition, distinguished by a particular strictness of canon and depth of meaning. Here one can also see a rare portrait of Petro Mohyla himself, painted during his lifetime — one of the most famous donor portraits in Ukrainian art.
A true sensation was the 1970 discovery. Beneath later layers of paint, a 12th-century fresco, “The Miraculous Catch of Fish,” was uncovered — one of the few surviving murals from the princely era.
No less valuable are the roughly 500 graffiti left on the church’s walls over the centuries. These are true voices of the past — prayers, names, and brief messages from people who came here hundreds of years ago.
How to visit the Church of the Savior at Berestove
The Church of the Savior at Berestove is located at 15 Ivana Mazepy Street, beyond the rampart of the National Museum of the Holodomor-Genocide.
The church can only be visited a few months of the year — from mid-spring to mid-autumn. In 2026, the church opened to visitors on April 17.
The church is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. The ticket office is open until 17:30. Price — 140 UAH, concession — 70 UAH.
Please note: during rain and unfavorable weather conditions, entry to the church may be temporarily restricted to preserve the unique ancient frescoes.
For those who wish to learn more about the history of the site, a thematic tour, “Church of the Savior at Berestove: History and Art,” is offered. During the tour, visitors can learn more about the church’s architecture, the 12th-century frescoes, the murals from the era of Petro Mohyla, and the ancient graffiti on the shrine’s walls.
Advance booking for tours:
+38 (044) 406-63-75
+38 (066) 728-03-27
or email tour@kplavra.kyiv.ua
Tour price:
- 340 UAH (concession — 170 UAH) in a group of 4 or more people;
- 440 UAH (concession — 220 UAH) in a group of up to 3 people.
