Church of the Tithe Virgin. 10th century

About the audio guide

The Church of the Tithes is the oldest stone church in Kyiv and in all of Rus’, built in 996 by order of Grand Prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavych. It became the first monumental symbol of the establishment of Christianity in the lands of Rus’ and a key milestone in the state’s transition to a new spiritual and cultural tradition. The church’s name derives from the “tithe”—a portion of princely income that Volodymyr dedicated to its maintenance—underscoring the sanctuary’s special status for both the state and the Church.

In this exhibition, you will hear the story of a temple that became the heart of early Christian Kyiv: from its construction during the formation of Rus’ as a European state to its dramatic destruction and the centuries-long search for its traces in the soil of Starokyivska Hill. The audio guide will help you imagine the original appearance of the Church of the Tithes, understand its role in the life of the medieval city, and feel how—through archaeological finds, fragments of walls, and scholarly reconstructions—the very memory of Kyiv speaks to us.