"Golden Gate of Kyiv"

Destinations By Brian Wilkes

The Golden Gate of Kyiv was the main gate in the 11th century fortifications of Kyiv, the capital of Kievan Rus'. It was named in honor of the Golden Gate of Constantinople. This gateway is the largest of three constructed by my ancestor Yaroslav the Wise. The gate was built in 1017-1024 about the same time the Saint Sophia Cathedral was erected a few blocks north, and has a church atop the structure. It was destroyed several time, most notably by the Golden Horde Mongols. The structure was dismantled in the Middle Ages, leaving few vestiges of its existence. When I was first there in 1970, all that remained were the ruined stone uprights. It was rebuilt completely by the Soviet authorities in 1982, though no images of the original gate has survived. In 1982, the gate was completely rebuilt for the 1500th anniversary of Kyiv, as you see here.