On October 26, 2026, a four-party Memorandum of Cooperation and Partnership was signed at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve on the study, preservation, conservation, and return of the tombstone of Prince Konstantin Ypsilant to the Assumption Cathedral. The joint project is aimed at preserving the monument of Ukrainian-Greek cultural heritage and creating appropriate conditions for its further study and presentation to visitors. The memorandum was signed by a representative of the Boumbouras Foundation Charity Organization, Head of the Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine Public Union Stepan Makhsma, Director General of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra National Reserve Maksym Ostapenko, and Director General of the National Research Restoration Center of Ukraine Svitlana Strelnikova. During the meeting, the history of the Monument, its current state, and the main stages of future work were presented. The project continues Ukrainian-Greek cooperation in the preservation of this memorial complex, restored with the support of Greek partners at the end of the 20th century. The monument combines the marble allegorical sculpture “Faith”, pedestals, a portrait bas-relief, a memorial slab and decorative elements. Some of its components are authentic, others were restored or recreated during previous works. Therefore, the partners consider it as a holistic multi-component historical and artistic complex, each component of which requires professional research. The reserve will carry out institutional coordination of the project, provide scientific and museum support, document the transfer and return of museum items, as well as organizational preparation for the installation of the Monument in the Assumption Cathedral. The National Research Restoration Center of Ukraine will provide expert, scientific and methodological support for the preservation of the marble sculpture “Vira”, research of its condition and preparation of restoration documentation. Conservation and restoration work on the sculpture will be carried out on the basis of a separate contract. The Boumbouras Foundation will facilitate the attraction of financial and material resources and will consider the possibilities of targeted charitable support for the agreed stages. The Federation of Greek Societies of Ukraine will ensure interaction with the Greek community, promote the involvement of researchers and cultural institutions, and popularize the history of the Ypsilanti family and Ukrainian-Greek historical and cultural ties. The memorandum is concluded for three years with the possibility of extension. The project will be implemented in stages, taking into account the results of research, the condition of the Monument’s components, and the necessary approvals. The specific scope, contractors, terms, and cost of the work will be determined by separate agreements and contracts. Konstantin Ypsilanti (1760–1816) was a representative of the Greek Phanariot family, a statesman, the lord of Moldova and Wallachia, and a figure in the Greek national liberation movement. In 1807, he settled with his family in Kyiv, where he spent the last years of his life. After his death, the prince was buried in the St. George Church near St. Sophia Cathedral. In 1818, a monument was erected over his grave, designed by sculptor Stepan Pimenov. After the destruction of the St. George Church, the tombstone was moved to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in 1935. In November 1941, it was found under the ruins of the destroyed church. The surviving fragments were discovered in July 1954 and transferred to the funds of the Reserve. In the 1960s, the portrait bas-relief of the prince was restored. In 1996–1997, at the expense of the All-Hellenic Union of Pontic Officers named after Alexander Ypsilanti, specialists from the Center for Restoration and Expertise of the Kyiv-Pechersk Reserve restored the memorial complex. On June 29, 1997, it was solemnly opened on the territory of the Lavra. Designed to be kept indoors, the Monument will be exposed to precipitation and temperature extremes for a long time. Its restoration and return to the Assumption Cathedral should provide appropriate conditions for the monument’s long-term preservation. The memorandum was signed on the eve of Ohi Day, a national holiday in Greece. The cooperation between Ukrainian institutions, philanthropists, and the Greek community continues the tradition of shared responsibility for preserving the historical memory and cultural heritage of the two peoples.
