Saint Sophia Cathedral is the oldest church in Kiev, which is not only a popular and famous around the world tourist attraction, thanks to the magnificent mosaics and frescoes, but also a symbol of the Orthodox faith. Despite the fact that in the 17th-18th centuries, the Cathedral was rebuilt, it remained its ancient indescribable atmosphere and soul.
Now St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev has the status of a museum and services are held here very rarely on the most solemn occasions. Year round, tourists can visit the museum, including the Golden Gate of 11th century, and several other ancient churches. History of St. Sophia Cathedral is closely intertwined with the history of ancient Rus’, making this temple is a landmark not only for the Ukrainians, but also for the Russians, and so it is certainly worth a visit. These ancient walls and with the stunning icons and mosaics are breathtaking, leaving a powerful and lasting impression. Unfortunately, the building is not preserved as good as other key European cathedrals, however, it offers a spectacular view and experience.
You can familiarize yourself with the plan of the museum-reserve St. Sophia Cathedral on its website of
http://sofiyskiy-sobor.polnaya.info/plan_sofii_kievskoy.shtml. Information about opening hours and entrance fee is available here
http://discover-ukraine.info/ru/places/kiev/kiev/162.
