06/01/2026
Even during the war, Kyiv is full of meaningful cultural events — living, breathing, deeply human. But this experience felt especially important to share, because it is so uniquely Ukrainian.
We attended an immersive performance at Saint Sophia Cathedral — a place that is over 1,000 years old.
Yes, one thousand years.
This cathedral was built in the 11th century and has survived wars, invasions, empires, and centuries of history.
The experience was not a typical tour.
We were given headphones, guided by monks carrying torches, and surrounded by light installations that brought ancient Ukrainian history — the time of Kyivan Rus — to life directly on the cathedral walls. The frescoes you see there are original and over a millennium old.
And then we entered the cathedral…
A Ukrainian choir began to sing “Shchedryk.”
Many people know this melody as “Carol of the Bells”, but what is often forgotten is that “Shchedryk” is a Ukrainian song, composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1916.
Hearing it inside a thousand-year-old Ukrainian cathedral was deeply moving — almost impossible to put into words.
This wasn’t just about beauty or music.
It was about culture, memory, and identity.
About realizing how deep and ancient Ukrainian culture truly is.
I wanted to share this because many people abroad simply don’t know that Ukraine has such profound history, architecture, and musical heritage — and moments like this deserve to be seen and remembered 🤍
