Kiev

Independence Square

Kiev's Independence Square. Image from the public domain.

• Many interesting events take place here. This place became well known to the world during the "Orange Revolution" in 2004.
  1. Panoramic View of the Square (photo from the public domain).
  2. The top of the Maidan Nezalezhnosti Monument at the center of the Square.
  3. The Square surrounded by the narrow buildings. is one of the
  4. This Fountain is one of the many artistic objects on this Square.
  5. Rock Concert. When I was there in 2006, the Square is getting ready for a evening rock convert, and
     • the crowd was getting assembled. A nice way to spend an evening.
     • Students. It is always a pleasure for me to meet students and talk with them.

  6. The Art Museum is neaby.
  7. Office of the President is also neaby. Here I have a photo with my wife.

• There is a park between the Square and the Dnieper River. There are many interesting things to see.
  1. The Dnieper River seen from the Park.
  2. Coca-Cola. They cannot live without without this American drink.

  3. The Rainbow Monument seen from the Dnieper River.
  4. Russian-Ukrainian Friendship Statue under the Rainbow monument.
  5. Friendship of Nations - Cossacks Monument also under the Rainbow.

Taras Shevchenko University and its Vicinity

• This University started as Saint Vladimir University in 1834, and its name became chagned to Taras Shevchenko University in 1939 during the communist era.
  1. Main Building of the University.
  2. Entrance to the Building.
  3. Statue of Taras Shevchenko facing the entrance across the street.
  4. Statue and its Surroundings. The statue is in the middle of a beautiful park.

  5. Its Physics Faculty is about 10 km west from the main building. Photo taken in 2006.

• It is a pleasure to walk from the University to the Independence Square. There are many interesting shops, momuments, eating-drinking places.
  1. Millhouse Restaurant serving many international items as well as traditional Ukrainian dishes. It is a fun place.
  2. Rock-and-Roll Cafe. It says so in Russian.
  3. Traditional Limousine carrying a newly-wed couple.
  4. Lenin's Statue. Vladimir Lenin is still an important figure in Kiev.

Dnieper River

• The River seen from its west-bank high ground.
  1. One of the Bridges across the River.
  2. One of the Cruise Boats on the River.
  3. John Klauder is very happy with his younger colleagues.

• Mother of the Motherland seen from the River.
  1. Pechersk Lavra Monatery seen from the River. This monastery, also known as the Kiev Monastery of Caves, was founded in 1015 AD, and has been playing the central role in developing Christianity in Ukraine.
  2. Modern Residential Buildings seen from a cruise boat.

• Two Medical Doctors from Dnepropetrovsk staying at the President Hotel Kievsky in Kiev (2006). They appeared to have beautiful minds. I asked them whether I could photograph them. They invited me to sit down with them, and I had a photo with them. There are many medical doctors in my family. In order to be a successful doctor, he/she must have a beautiful mind and must always be ready to help others.

Music in Kiev

• Ukrainian Music Ensemble at the President Hotel Kievsky (2006).

• Ukrainian Musical Instrument in front of the Saint Andrews Monatery.

• Kiev Opera House. Front view. I was there while attending the 10th Int'l Conference on Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (2010).
  1. Side View of the Opera House
  2. Inside, upper tiers.
  3. Ceiling of the theater.
  4. Orchestra Bay during the intermission.
  5. After Aleko. After the performance of Rachmaninoff's one-act opera entitled Aleko (gypsy).
  6. After Bolero. It is rather boring to hear this dance music by Maurice Ravel. Repetition of the same tune! However, this music becomes complete if accompanied by different dances. I do not know whether it was the composer's original design.

Kiev Day

The last Monday of May is a holidy in Kiev, and it is called the Kiev day. During my visit in 2010, I was fortunate enough to enjoy this holiday in Kiev. No automobiles were allowed on the Independence Square and the major bulevard leading to this Square. Of course it was an excellent photo opportunity for me.
• Day of Relxation. People enjoy their do-nothing times. We all need do-nothing times.
  1. Another Photo of Relaxed People.
  2. Curious Crowd around the Independence Monument.

• McDonald's Ladies are very busy.
  1. My Photo with relaxed Unkrainians.
  2. Mark and Spencer and holiday shoppers.
  3. Yellow Shirts. There were also many yellow-shirted people. They seem to represent some company.

• These people like to have their cause known. I did not know and I still do not know what they stood for. Yet, it was photo-worthy.
  1. Roller Skaters on the car-less street.
  2. I support her cause, even though I do not understand what she stands for. This is what you should do on the do-nothing day.

Kiev as a City of Churches and Monasteries

Statue of Vladimir in Kiev. Image from the Wikipedia.

• During the communist era (1917-1990), about 80 percent of all Kiev church buildings were destroyed. Yet there are still too many for me to construct a comprehensive webpage for the Kiev churches, even though I have a number of photos I took during my two visits to Kiev (2006 and 2010).

• It is widely known that Prince Vladimir went to Greece in 988 AD, and imported Christianity to Kiev and the Russian world. However, Greece was not far away for him. The island (or peninsula) of Crimea was a Greek colony at that time, and Vladimir was baptized at one of the Greek Orthodox churches there.

  This means that by the end of the 10th century, there were already many Christians in Ukraine. Vladimir could have became converted for political reasons, as Emperor Constantine adopted Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire.

  This comparison with Emperor Constantine is my own idea, and could be a crazy one. I have many crazy ideas as you know. However, I did an in-depth study of the process in which the Roman Empire became Christianized.

Please come again. I have many more photos to post.

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