On September 14, 2026, the exhibition “Sacred Treasures from Kyiv” opened at the V&A South Kensington, presenting for the first time in the UK seven sacred monuments from the collection of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve. The project was implemented with the support of the British Council.
The opening of the exhibition was attended by Sir Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A; Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine – Minister of Culture of Ukraine; Maksym Ostapenko, Director General of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve; and Sam Harvey, Deputy Director of the Geographic Network of the British Council.
The free exhibition Sacred Treasures from Kyiv features seven artifacts, including key objects of worship in the Ukrainian Orthodox tradition: an icon, a silver-plated altar Gospel – a liturgical book used during Christian worship – a Eucharistic discus and a silver-gilded chalice depicting the Crucifixion. Created by Kyivan goldsmiths of the Baroque era, these artifacts demonstrate their exceptional craftsmanship and reflect the spiritual culture of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. They are displayed in the V&A Sacred Silver and Stained Glass and Silver Galleries alongside other exhibits from the museum’s collection.
Founded in the 11th century, the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has been one of the leading centers of religious life, artistic activity, education, and patronage for centuries. The exhibition opened in the year of the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and the centennial of the National Reserve.
Sacred Treasures from Kyiv continues a long-standing partnership between the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve and the V&A, which focuses on the origin and history of two pairs of rare silver-gilt Royal Gates from the Lavra and their reinterpretation. They were removed from the monastery during the Soviet period and later found their way into various private collections abroad before entering the Gilbert Collection. The Royal Gates, on long-term loan from the V&A Gilbert Trust for the Arts, are now on display in the renovated Gilbert Galleries. They are the only known examples of their type outside the Orthodox world.
Some of the artifacts donated by the National Trust were created by the same craftsmen who worked on the Royal Gates. The V&A’s presentation of the artifacts from the Lavra, along with a new interpretation of the Royal Gates, helps to restore their Ukrainian historical and artistic context. For decades, their cataloguing and interpretation have been based on a Russian imperial framework, while their Ukrainian origins and cultural significance have been neglected. The V&A, together with the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Trust, with additional support from the Ukrainian Institute and ICOM UK, have worked to reveal the story of the gates more fully. This is part of a wider shift in international museum practice – particularly in the way Ukrainian heritage in collections abroad is researched, described and presented.
The British Council supported the transportation of the monuments to the UK, as well as the participation of Lavra specialists in curatorial research and professional exchange with British colleagues. The Ukrainian Institute promotes partnerships between Ukrainian and British institutions and co-organizes the public program of the project. The project is also supported by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom. The project develops lasting professional ties between cultural institutions of Ukraine and the UK and contributes to the cultural dimension of the 100-year partnership between the two countries.
Comments from partners Tetyana Berezhna, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine – Minister of Culture of Ukraine: “Ukraine’s cultural heritage is an integral part of European history and deserves a worthy international presentation, based on Ukrainian knowledge and expertise. The presentation of the sacred treasures of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra at the V&A demonstrates the important role of Ukrainian state institutions, researchers and curators in how our heritage is studied and presented to the world. Such partnerships strengthen international cooperation and create new opportunities for the study, preservation and protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.”
Maksym Ostapenko, General Director of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”: “This exhibition provides an opportunity to tell a story that goes far beyond these landmarks themselves. The Silver Tsar’s Gates, together with other treasures from the collection of the National Reserve “Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra”, open up a whole chapter of Ukrainian cultural heritage, which still remains little known outside of Ukraine. Thanks to these works, an international audience gets acquainted with the Ukrainian school of sacred goldsmithing of the 18th century – one of the highest achievements of Ukrainian Baroque art. It is especially important for us that, thanks to the partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, this story will be presented to the world and will appear in an international context as an inseparable part of the common cultural heritage of Europe.”
Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A: “These national treasures demonstrate the exceptional craftsmanship of Ukrainian goldsmiths and reveal the rich artistic heritage that the Lavra holds. We hope that the exhibition and symposium in September will help to deepen our appreciation of Ukraine’s unique heritage and promote cultural collaboration to explore and tell the country’s extraordinary story.”
Scott McDonald, Executive Director of the British Council: “This collaboration is a powerful example of what long-term cultural partnerships between Ukraine and the UK can achieve. By sharing knowledge and expertise between Ukrainian and British professionals, this exhibition will help to deepen understanding of Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage and introduce its stories to a wider audience in the UK. We are proud to support this collaboration as part of the 100-year partnership between Ukraine and the UK, which will strengthen cultural ties between our two countries well into the future.”
Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute: “This collaboration is an example of a long-term partnership built on mutual respect, which yields long-term results. Our joint work on the decolonization guide for museums has contributed to a more accurate attribution of the origin of the Royal Gates and their presentation in the majestic halls of the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the cultural heritage of Ukraine. We are pleased that the Royal Gates has opened the way to broader interaction between leading institutions in Ukraine and the United Kingdom.”
