Askold's Grave
Askold’s Grave enters the park complex on the right bank of the Dnypro, laid out in 1934-1936 on the territory of the ancient Ygorske Urochyshe. According to a legend, in 882 on this very site prince Oleg killed and buried princes Askold and Dir, the sons of Kiy, the founder of Kyiv, to become the next ruler of Rus.
According to some reports, Askold was honored by Kyivers for the fact, that in the 860s he had been baptized in Tsargrad, took the name Nicholas and preached Christianity in Rus. Despite some scientists consider the story of Askold and Dir murder to be folklore, most people believe that Askold’s Grave is the place of Kyiv prince burial.
From the times of Princess Olga till the beginning of 19th century the site had been marked by periodically reconstructed wooden chapel. In 1809-1810 a stone Saint Nicolas church shaped as rotunda was constructed instead of the wooden one to a design by architect Melenskiy. Some decades upon the construction it was rebuilt and turned into a pavilion. In 1935 the pavilion was supplemented by the unique colonnade which can be seen there today.
In 1786 a cemetery was founded near Askold’s Grave. Many outstanding Kyivers, such as medical professor Mering, famous pilot, the author of dead loop Nesterov. Young Ukranian patriots killed by Bolsheviks in the battle near the Kruty station were buried in the cemetery in 1918. In 1935 the area of Askold’s Grave was completely turned into a park zone. The cemetery was destroyed and the graves were transferred to other cemeteries, but a wooden cross still indicates the site.
A monument to Apostle Andrew the First-Called made of solid piece of granite can by master Shvetsov can also be found on the territory. According to Nestor's Russian Primary Chronicle, two thousands years ago Andrew the Apostle, while wandering around the Scythian land and preaching Christianity, blessed the hilly bank of the Dnypro and forecasted glory to Jerusalem of Russian lands. The monument emphasizes importance of the saint for Kyiv.
Askold’s Grave is surrounded by legends. It has always attracted Kyivers, tourists and art creators. Such famous Ukrainian authors as Taras Shevchenko and Zagorskiy dedicated their works to Askold’s Grave. The opera by Verestovsky became very popular and still can be seen in Ukrainian theaters.