Mykhailivska Square

Mykhailivska Square is one of the oldest squares in Kyiv. It is located between Desyatynna and Triokhsvyatytelska streets on one side and Velyka Zhytomyrska, Mykhailivska, and Volodymyrskyi Passage on the other. For a long time, this square remained a wild area until the construction of the Mykhailivskyi Cathedral in 1113. In 1905, a funicular was opened in Kyiv, significantly increasing access to Mykhailivska Square for visitors from the Lower City. In 1911, a monumental statue of Princess Olha was erected, playing an important role in shaping Kyiv's historical and cultural landscape. To her left stands the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and to her right are sculptures of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Unfortunately, the monument was dismantled during the Soviet era. It wasn't until 1996, during the celebration of Kyiv Day, that the restored monument returned to its historical location in Mykhailivska Square. Near the walls of the cathedral, one of the first monuments in Kyiv dedicated to the victims of the Holodomor stands. This monument features a stone cross and a mother-berehynia, a symbol of Ukraine, with her arms lowered in despair and a child held close to her chest. On the walls of Mykhailivskyi Cathedral, there is the Memory Wall of fallen defenders of Ukraine in Russia-Ukraine war. The Memory Wall was opened on the first anniversary of the Ilovaisk tragedy, August 29, 2014. It depicts photos of fallen soldiers from 2014 to the present day. Visiting Mykhailivska Square and the Memory Wall has become an essential part of official visits to Kyiv. Foreign leaders, diplomats, and representatives of international organizations come here to express their respect and solidarity with the Ukrainian people.