The project "Cossack Churches of the Kyiv Region", initiated by the non-governmental organization "Ukraine Incognita", received support from the international organizations World Monuments Fund and Save Europe's Heritage. This was reported by the founder of "Ukraine Incognita" and head of the "Ancient Kyiv" State Historical and Architectural Reserve, Roman Malenkov.

According to him, international support is critically important for the preservation of objects that are under threat of destruction.

Digitalization as the first step to restoration

The main focus of researchers is now on the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Syniava. This monument is one of two preserved five-domed Cossack churches, and in four years it will celebrate its 300th anniversary. Research, measured drawings, and the creation of a detailed digital model are being carried out at the site. Similar work is also underway in the village of Ostriv.

The results of this activity will become the technical foundation for the development of a full restoration project for the St. Nicholas Church. The project is implemented jointly with the World Monuments Fund and Save Europe's Heritage, which are dedicated to the preservation of world and European cultural heritage.

Legal obstacles

As Roman Malenkov notes, for seven years, 77 churches in the Kyiv region have effectively had no balance holders.

The organizers of the project draw the attention of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Kyiv Regional State Administration to the need to resolve the issue of balance holders. The lack of an official owner of the buildings makes it impossible to carry out any legal restoration work, which leads to the gradual decay of unique examples of Ukrainian wooden architecture.