On September 17, the opening of the photo exhibition “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra: 975 Years of History – 100 Years of Responsible Preservation” took place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Historical and Cultural Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”. The celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” is included in the UNESCO Calendar of Memorable Dates.
The event was opened by the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Lazare Elounda Assomo, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization, Anastasia Bondar, Acting Head of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to UNESCO, Mykola Movchan, and Director General of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, Maksym Ostapenko.
“It is a great honor for me to be involved in this important anniversary. This celebration takes place in a broader context – in conditions where the protection and preservation of cultural heritage are of particular importance. The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is an important part of this common heritage and an example of how important international cooperation and responsible preservation of cultural values are,” said Lazare Elundu Assomo.
“The Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is an important part of the cultural heritage of Ukraine and the world. Today, when the monuments of the Lavra are under threat due to Russian aggression, it is especially important to document its history and current state and talk about it at the international level. The exhibition at UNESCO headquarters demonstrates the continued work to preserve the Lavra and the importance of international cooperation. Our common task is to preserve its authenticity and pass this heritage on to future generations,” said Anastasia Bondar.
As part of the opening, an expert discussion “100 Years of Preservation: Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – a Century of Change” was held, moderated by Anastasia Bondar. The discussion was attended by the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Lazaret Eloundu Assomo, and the General Director of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve, Maksym Ostapenko.
Anastasia Bondar emphasized that the history of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and the work to preserve it demonstrates how much approaches to the protection of cultural heritage have changed, but the responsibility for its preservation and transmission to future generations has remained unchanged.
She drew attention to the role of professional knowledge and people who continued to work on the preservation of the Lavra in different historical periods, as well as on the development of the international system of cultural heritage protection. Separately, Anastasia Bondar spoke about Ukraine’s experience during a full-scale war. According to her, real emergencies have become a test for training systems and threat response plans. Ukrainian specialists are forced to constantly adapt to new risks and learn from practice. She emphasized that this experience is important not only for Ukraine. The knowledge gained by Ukrainian specialists during the war should be used to improve international approaches to preparing for and responding to emergencies in the field of cultural heritage. The wide international representation testified to the attention of UNESCO Member States to the issues of preserving Ukrainian cultural heritage and the importance of international cooperation in the field of its protection.
Participants discussed the evolution of approaches to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage over the last century, the role of professional and institutional continuity, contemporary risks to World Heritage sites, and issues of emergency preparedness and response.
Particular attention was paid to Ukraine’s experience in the context of ongoing Russian aggression and the possibility of using it to improve international approaches to the protection of cultural heritage. Using the example of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, participants examined how decades of professional knowledge, documentation, specialist training, and institutional interaction become critical in emergency situations.
This year, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra celebrates two important dates – 975 years since the first written mention and 100 years since the founding of the historical and cultural reserve, designed to research, protect, and preserve its unique complex of monuments.
These anniversaries take on special significance in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The UNESCO World Heritage Site “Kyiv: St. Sophia Cathedral and adjacent monastic buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra” remains on the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger. In 2026, both the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and St. Sophia of Kyiv were damaged as a result of Russian attacks on Kyiv.
The event at UNESCO headquarters is intended not only to present the history and current state of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to the international community, but also to contribute to the mobilization of further international expert and practical support for its preservation, as well as the exchange of experience and best practices in the field of protection and management of World Heritage sites.
Ukraine will actively continue cooperation with UNESCO, the World Heritage Center, Advisory Bodies and Partner States to protect the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and other sites of Ukrainian cultural heritage, as well as use the practical experience gained by Ukraine to strengthen international mechanisms for the protection of cultural heritage in the face of modern threats.
The event attracted significant attention from the international community and brought together over 80 representatives of international delegations.
The photo exhibition “Kyiv Pechersk Lavra: 975 Years of History – 100 Years of Responsible Preservation” will run at UNESCO headquarters in Paris until September 22, 2026.
