Sightseeing...

The week before Christmas the Vivian and I went with the other senior missionary couples serving in Kyiv downtown to do some sightseeing, look for something Ukrainian to buy and to have some Ukrainian food.  In short to relax and enjoy the experience in being in such a historical place.

Golden Gate (золоті ворота - Zolati Vorota)

Yes, we are from the San Francisco Bay Area.  And yes I was surprised to find a golden gate in Kyiv.  This golden gate was the main gate in the 11th century fortification of Kyiv.  It was destroyed in the Middle Ages and completely rebuilt by the Soviet authorities in 1982.  A lot of controversy surrounded its rebuilding.  Feel free to go to Wikipedia for more information about it https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate,_Kiev.

It also happens to be a stop on the underground subway (Metro) where we all met.

Christmas Sightings

There is a large square and promenade between two well-known cathedrals in Kyiv...Saint Sophia and Saint Michael.  While the Ukrainians do have a Saint Nicholas (Svyatyy Mykolay) more common is Father Frost (Did Moroz (Ukrainian spelling) or Ded Moroz (Russian spelling).  Father Frost is always seen in the company of his granddaughter the Snow Maiden (Snihuronka).  And sometimes they are seen the company of guys like me from America...

I have no idea who the bear is.  He just jumped in at the last second. 

Saint Sophia's Cathedral

We just saw the outside of the cathedral.  On another visit we will go into the cathedral and many of the other buildings that are part of the cathedral grounds.  It was founded in 1011 AD and represents Byzantine architecture.

Saint Michael's Cathedral & Monastery

This cathedral was built in the 12th Century and is at the opposite end of the plaza from Saint Sophia.  This cathedral can be seen from the Dnepro River high up on the hill from the river.  We were able to go inside the cathedral but did not take any pictures.  We had to take off our missionary name tags, the men had to take their hats off and the women had to cover the heads with their scarves.  If we didn't there was a monk there to remind us in a very clear and emphatic manner.  The art work was beautiful, lots of gold inlays.  I'm not really up on the Byzantine period nor the Eastern Orthodox Church.  If I was I think more of the art work would have been understandable.

Nevertheless it was worth going inside to see.

When we came out the bells were tolling...it was just before noon.

Saint Michael's Cathedral & Monastery behind us.

Entrance to the cathedral

The bells...oh the bells!

Memorial Wall

You are probably aware Ukraine has been battling Russian-backed separatists who would like to align themselves with Russia rather than Ukraine.  The New York times referred to this conflict as the "not-war."  This conflict/war started in 2014 and is still going on.  The conflict is happening in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.  Over 10,000 people have died during this conflict.

Near Saint Michael's Cathedral is a memorial wall of those who have died.  The title above one of the panels of the wall (see picture below) says "Service men and law-enforcers who died for the unity of Ukraine."  This was very sobering to view and think about.

Before 2014, the Church had the Ukraine Donetsk Mission.  A nephew of ours served his mission there.  After the conflict began the missionaries were removed from the area and the mission was closed.  A new mission now operates in eastern Ukraine - Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission.  There were two very strong branches of the Church in Donetsk and Luhansk.  Since the conflict began the separatists have taken over the Church buildings.  The Church members meet in small groups in their homes (usually apartments).  Group leaders have been set apart to hold Church meetings, partake of the sacrament, perform baptisms and other ordinances.  The mission president provides priesthood leadership.  There is much more I could say but that will have to wait until I return home.  Suffice it to say the members of the Church in this war-torn area are very faithful, strong members of the Church and followers of Jesus Christ.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

The picture below shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.  This building is next to Saint Michael's Cathedral opposite the Memorial Wall.

МАТРЁШКА (Matryoshka) - Ukrainian Nesting Doll

We were taken to a vendor stand down the street from the Foreign Affairs building that deals in all sorts of Ukrainian stuff.  The guy who runs the stand knows the missionaries very well.  He deals with a Ukrainian artist who does the hand painting on these nesting dolls.  The picture below is our first souvenir purchase.  A nice nativity to add to Vivian's burgeoning collection.

Food Vendors - Farmers Market Style

After sightseeing and souvenir shopping it was time for lunch!  Between the two cathedrals various food and beverage booths were set up  by various food vendors.  All of the food was Ukrainian style.  It all looked very good.  I settled on a stand that sold roasted meats, vegetables, mushrooms (my favorite) and other tasty food items.  Next to the stand (picture below) was a vendor who sold various types of hot drinks.  I settled on hot coco.  Vivian and I got pretty much the same thing - roasted pork or beef, roasted potatoes, roasted mushrooms and I added roasted tomatoes.  It was more than lunch...it ended up being our dinner and perfect way to end our outing before heading back to the Metro to go back to our apartment.

Our food vendor was nice enough to pose for us.  The sign on the left - mulled wine; the sign on the right - barbecue.  The aroma coming from the stand was heavenly.

The ladies who lunch together from left to right:  Sisters Vivian Foley, Joyce Haldeman, Karen Bingham and Merrilee Andrus

What a contrast...

I saw the two buildings in the photo below on our way back to the Metro.  I thought it was perfect to see the contrast of new versus old...left and right!

Perfect Day...almost

We had a great day seeing the sights with these wonderful other missionary couples.  I mentioned earlier in this blog about riding the Metro.  You have to experience it rather read about it to really get an idea.  Suffice it to say that in a city of 2.5 million people it can get very crowded in getting all those people around using public transportation.  You have to get use to being squished together so tight that all rules of privacy get thrown out the window.  When Vivian and I travel we often get separated.  People get off the Metro but people get on and pack themselves in.  We are always traveling through the transfer stations in center Kyiv where the bulk of the passengers get on and off.  Think of riding BART in San Francisco from Embarcadero to Civic Center at the height of commute times ..only worse!  Below is a picture that I took of Vivian.

Why, you ask am I discussing public transportation at the end of this blog?  Well, one of the big risks in Kyiv is being pick pocketed.  It's been almost 5 months and I've been very careful.  Especially on crowded buses and subway trains.  On the way back to our apartment we were stuffed onto the subway.  As I was getting on the train I was being pushed from behind with other people until I almost lost my balance.  I didn't fall though because there was no room.  I was kind of semi-horizontal.  When I got my feet back on the ground I check my pockets as I always do...NO WALLET!!!  Yes, I got pick pocketed.  Fortunately the thief dropped my wallet on the floor on the way out of the train at the next stop.  My wallet had credit card and two debit cards.  Boy was I lucky.  However he did get away with 2,000 Hryvnia (about $77).    How I did not feel him I'll never know.  My wallet was buried in my front pocket covered by my winter coat.  So...I can check this off my bucket list.  I had never been robbed before.  I came 9,000 miles for the experience.  Thank you very much!  It was very disheartening to have this happen.  I did feel violated.  But I got over it quickly.  I just decided not to let it get me down.  I only hope that the reason for stealing my wallet was because he had some poor nephew to feed.