Church of the Resurrection | Chernihiv

The Church of the Resurrection in Chernihiv is a prominent religious and architectural landmark that reflects the Ukrainian Baroque style, interwoven with classical features. It stands as a symbol of Chernihiv's deep spiritual heritage and historical endurance through centuries of transformation.

Location

Address: 46 Remisnycha Street, Chernihiv, Ukraine

Originally constructed on the grounds of the city's cemetery, near the historical center of Chernihiv.

Historical Background

Construction began in 1772 and was completed in 1775.

The church was commissioned by Yekaterina Borkovskaya, a noblewoman and landowner, who intended it as a family burial chapel.

The church was built during a time of cultural revival in Ukraine, when Baroque ecclesiastical architecture was dominant.

It played a spiritual role for burials and mourning rites for over a century.

Architectural Description

The church features a rectangular layout with a single dome.

It has rectangular porches on multiple sides and a wooden apse at the eastern end.

The facades are adorned with triangular pediments, reflecting classical influences, and the overall design exhibits the late Ukrainian Baroque style.

Window placement and proportion reflect formal symmetry typical of 18th-century ecclesiastical design.

Bell Tower

Constructed separately between 1772 and 1779 in the same architectural style.

It is a multi-tiered, faceted structure topped with a dome and a sharp spire.

Its style closely resembles the work of architect Ivan Hryhorovych-Barskyi, a master of Ukrainian Baroque.

In the Soviet era, a roadway was built through the cemetery, separating the bell tower from the main church building. This significantly altered the original layout of the church complex.

Soviet and Modern History

After the Bolshevik Revolution, the church was closed.

During World War II, it reopened and served as the cathedral of Chernihiv until the 1970s.

The interior was severely damaged during this period, and original furnishings and iconography were lost.

In the 1990s, with Ukraine's independence and the revival of religious freedom, the church was restored and reopened for worship.

Today, it remains an active church under the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Current Status

The Church of the Resurrection is listed as a national architectural monument of Ukraine (registry number 250115).

It is protected under national heritage laws and is recognized as an important religious and historical site.

Visitors can attend services or view the church as part of Chernihiv’s architectural and cultural tours.

The Church of the Resurrection continues to be a vital spiritual center and a monument of architectural significance. Despite suffering from historical upheavals, it has been preserved and restored, embodying Chernihiv's enduring faith and cultural legacy.