A little more of Kyiv
Prior to my visit to Kyiv, I imagined 3 days in this beautiful city would be sufficient. It was not. With a limited travel itinerary for the Ukraine, I am happy I included Kyiv but sad to be leaving it. I need to return. Though smaller than London, Paris and Istanbul, the city of about 3 million is somewhat spread out. Without the ability to read Ukrainian (not even the alphabet), the subway is impossible to navigate. The historical areas are in close proximity, but I felt hurried trying to see them all and spend enough time wandering through each. An outdoor park (showcasing historical and traditional Ukrainian life) is not open during the winter months! Ukrainian festivals, ballet, and music will be included in my return.
I briefly visited the reconstructed Golden Gate but lacked understanding as to its real historical or spiritual significance. Prince Yaroslav fortified the city over 1500 years ago during his rule. In honor of the Mother of God, he built a fortification tower with a gilded-domed Annunciation Church atop it. Known as the Golden Gate (“the sky gate”) because each morning, as the sun rose, it passed through the gate and entered “the vault of heaven.”
The “Golden Gate”–both protected against invaders and welcomed friendly traders
Even though fortified with steel and protected from the elements the original walls are crumbling
In 1832 archeologists uncovered the old fortification of Kyiv buried under rubble. Almost 150 years later (1970s) the Golden Gate was reconstructed over the uncovered ruins.
The statue of the Kiev’s Prince Yaroslav the Wise is located right in front of the Golden Gate structure.
close up of the statue of Prince Yaroslav the Wise
Now that I know a bit more of the Ukraine–and this city in particular–I wonder: did my ancestors visit here? Did they see the sun rise through the Golden Gate? What was their faith in God?
One of the few designated (and protected) “ancient trees” of Kyiv
But, not everything in the Ukraine is serious. A different type of park lay hidden only a few blocks from the Golden Gates. “Landscape Alley” is a small, intimate park-like area. Taking into account several fairy tale stories, local artisans constructed several sculptures using traditional “Ukrainian” ceramic mosaic methods. Unlike a bird or mouse inside a cat’s mouth, I relaxed, sat back and smiled–a welcome break from the fast paced walking tour!
Mosaic decorations to sit in, on, or just look at. (I always wanted to sit in the mouth of a cat!)
Another sculpture, only a few blocks from Saint Andrew’s Church is a life size bronze of a man asking a woman to marry him. “After Two Hares” is a story about a frivolous young man chasing after two women; “If you run after two hares you will catch neither.” Like the young man in the Ukrainian story, chaos reigns when one moves back and forth between the two opposites.
A Ukrainian custom to bring good luck is to “rub the ring” the young man is holding up
In the New Testament James warns us of the danger of “double mindedness.” Not only does it cause instability, it prohibits us from “receiving” from the Lord.
James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”
Belief and doubt cause confusion. Though by the age of sixty it happens less often, my mind will ping pong back and forth between belief and doubt. When my logical mind takes precedence over faith I feel tossed around in the turbulent sea of doubts. But instead of finding fault, Jesus provides our help. An example is found in the New Testament Book of Mark where the father of a young son (in need of healing) cries out to Jesus:
Mark 9:24, “Lord I do believe! Help my unbelief!”
God generously gives to us. Wisdom is His gift–not because of our age or through experiences–because He loves us. Even my faith–belief without seeing–is from God.
As I’ve journeyed through Ukraine, God’s presence is everywhere. Almost two thousand years ago the Apostle Andrew believed (without seeing) that this area would become a city worshipping God. Standing on the banks of the Dnieper River, he placed a cross on the side of a hill and “saw in his mind” this land, belonging to God.
I trust God as He leads me through this land (Ukraine) and into the next (Russia). If fear takes over and my faith wanes, He strengthens me and holds me close. There’s a refrain from an old hymn, “He Hideth My Soul” by Fanny Crosby: “He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock, That shadows a dry, thirsty land, He hideth my soul with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand.” Everywhere I travel He’s already there.
