Saint Sophia's Cathedral was built in the early 11th century by Yaroslav the Wise and is the oldest surviving building in Kyiv. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it contains the most complete collection of original 11th-century mosaics and frescoes anywhere in Eastern Europe. The golden mosaic of the Virgin Orans in the main apse is particularly striking. The complex includes the Metropolitan's residence, a museum, and the famous Sophia Bell Tower. The cathedral is now a museum rather than an active church.
Saint Sophia's Cathedral
UNESCO 11th-century cathedral with original Byzantine mosaics
| Address | Volodymyrska 24, Kyiv |
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A story
Yaroslav the Wise — the cathedral's founder and arguably the greatest of the Kyivan Rus princes — is buried in a marble sarcophagus inside. In 2009 the sarcophagus was opened and the remains examined; when it was reopened in 2011 the bones were gone, presumably stolen, and have never been recovered.