A scientific sensation in the capital: researchers came very close to solving a historical mystery

During the Soviet rule, one of the grandest cathedrals, where the grave of Hetman Pyotr Sahaidachny was located, was dismantled, and now researchers have established its exact location.

The burial place of Hetman Sahaidachny may be found as early as next year. A scientific sensation in the capital: scientists managed to establish the exact location of the Epiphany Cathedral in Podil. It was there, according to historical evidence, that the famous Ukrainian hetman was buried. It was possible to establish the place of laying the foundations with the help of modern technologies, TSN says.

A state-of-the-art and powerful ground-penetrating radar, which looks like a lawnmower and costs several cars, can ?see up to 8 meters deep. It was he who discovered the majestic Epiphany Cathedral, an architectural landmark of the capital Podil, on the Maidan on the territory of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

It was built by Mazepa, but was destroyed during Soviet times: it was dismantled into bricks. It is known for certain that hetman Pyotr Sahaidachny was buried here, but together with the cathedral, the exact evidence about his grave was lost. An accident helped to make sure that the underground part of the temple was preserved. "In 2010, the damaged pipe was repaired, and the workers opened up this place, there were such trenches," Ksenia Bondar tells how they saw the foundation in the pit.

13 years ago, the authorities did not give permission for excavations. Research was stopped until there was an opportunity to "enlighten" this area with radar. To get an idea of what is under the ground, Ms. Ksenia had to explore every centimeter of the huge yard. "We were given a communication plan, so we found both those that were drawn to us and those that are unknown," the researcher reports.

She found out that the well-preserved foundations of the ancient cathedral are just under the feet of the people of Kyiv. "0.6-0.8 meters! That is, he is very close! Just below us," she says.

The cathedral was magnificent and covered most of the modern yard. The altar of the ancient temple is a few steps from the trench in which the foundation of the temple was miraculously discovered. Patches from that repair are still visible on the asphalt. "If while digging a trench for a heat pipe we found such solid, beautiful elements, then when we conduct a solid excavation, I hope we will find many... many miracles," says Tetyana Osinchuk, director of the Center for the Conservation of Archaeological Objects.

The elements of the cathedral's decoration, which were in that trench, were exhibited in the Kyiv art gallery. There are tiles and even a fragment of a column. "This is a column decorating the central entrance area, we have only one of them," the gallery says.
Photographs and drawings of the cathedral from the outside and inside have been preserved. And also panoramic photos of Podol, from which it is obvious that the cathedral was the tallest and most magnificent building. Scientists want to return his name to the cathedral.

Back in the 90s, the cathedral was included in the list of monuments to be rebuilt - together with the Dormition Cathedral in the Lavra and the St. Michael's Monastery. Now that the foundation has been found, it is possible to talk objectively about reconstruction. "The Epiphany Cathedral acquired the status of a newly discovered monument of cultural heritage. This happened already during the war! Last year", - scientists say.

The new status of the monument makes it possible to initiate excavations: according to the plan, they will begin next summer and will be large-scale. Mrs. Tatiana says that her first dream is to open the foundations, and later to restore the cathedral. The second is to find the grave of Hetman Sahaidachny.
"There is no mention that a stone burial, a stone crypt was found in the 70s and there is no information about its movement, so we believe that we will find it. One of the crypts was under the pillar of the icon of the Mother of God," the researcher points out to the most probable burial place of the hetman.

Maksym Yaremenko, doctor of historical sciences, argues with her: there is no written evidence about the hetman's grave. Therefore, you will have to make an effort to find and prove that it is her. "We don't know where exactly in this place, on the territory of Mohylyanka, Sahaidachny's grave might be... but he is here," he says.