Proud and magnificent figure of Prince who christened Kievan Rus is placed high on a hill over Dnieper. Saint patron of Kiev has a great cross in his right hand and the prince’s crown in left one. The statue erected on top of the iron-bent brick pedestal made in the shape of a chapel. Saint Vladimir monument story Constructing of this iconic statue started in 1840th with the strengthening of the steep slopes of the hill called Vladimirskaya gorka right over the Dnieper. Also a terrace on the slope was built. The famous Russian sculptor Vasiliy Demut-Malinovskiy had proposed a project with the monument on the same place where eight centuries ago the citizens of Kiev (and — symbolically — all of the Russians) was christened by their Prince right in the waters of Dnieper. Emperor of Russia Nicholay I had this project approved but construction were delayed after the protests of archbishop of Kiev: he argued against the building of «pagan» statue in honor of Christian prince who destroyed all of pagan statues. Opposition of the archbishop was softened few years later after the construction of another Christian landmark — St. Vladimir Cathedral — had begun. The monument was built on an octagon pedestal faced with the relief scenes of christening along and Archangel Michael who is a divine patron of Kiev. At the feet of the statue weaponry, symbols of fertility and torch of education were depicted. Initially the cross of the Prince was illuminated with the gas lamps but later it was changed to electric bulbs, so statue was clearly visible in the night. On the hill around the monument the pathways were formed, placed benches, fountain, even a tea house and it became the favorite place of kievans. Prince Vladimir It’s said, Vladimir was
Proud and magnificent figure of Prince who christened Kievan Rus is placed high on a hill over Dnieper. Saint patron of Kiev has a great cross in his right hand and the prince’s crown in left one. The statue erected on top of the iron-bent brick pedestal made in the shape of a chapel.