Pokrovskiy Monastery Photo

Photographer’s Note

This is the entrance square of Pokrovsky monastery of Ukrainian Orthodox Church situated in the very center of Kharkiv city (University Street, 8). The word «Pokrovskiy» means that the monastery was dedicated to Pokrov, the Protection of the Mother of God.

[From Wikipedia:]
According to Eastern Orthodox Sacred Tradition, the apparition of Mary, the mother of Jesus, occurred during the 10th century at the Blachernae church in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) where several of her relics (her robe, veil, and part of her belt) were kept. On Sunday, October 1 at four in the morning, St. Andrew the Blessed Fool-for-Christ, who was a Slav by birth, saw the dome of the church open and the Virgin Mary enter, moving in the air above him, glowing and surrounded by angels and saints. She knelt and prayed with tears for all faithful Christians in the world. The Virgin Mary asked her son, Jesus Christ, to accept the prayers of all the people entreating him and looking for her protection. Once her prayer was completed, she walked to the altar and continued to pray. Afterwards, she spread her veil over all the people in the church as a protection. ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protection_of_the_Mother_of_God)

As Kharkiv was founded by Ukrainian Cossacks, which considered Virgin Mary as their protectress and commemorated the miracle annually on October 1 (October 14 on the Gregorian calendar) as one of their main feast days, they dedicated the first church of Kharkiv’s fortress to Pokrov. In 1726 on the basis of this church the Pokrovskiy monastery was established mainly for theological educational purposes. The first institution of higher education in Eastern Ukraine, Kharkiv’s Collegium was opened there. One of the Collegium’s lecturers was Hryhoriy Skovoroda (1722 - 1794), an eminent Ukrainian poet, philosopher and composer. (His portrait is inserted into 500-hryvnia banknote, the most valuable note among Ukrainian money. Ukrainian banknotes are considered the world’s finest, but unfortunately Ukrainian currency have been revealing itself recently also as one of the world’s softest, 500 hryvnias being equal to 104 US dollars in the last August and only 65 dollars now).

In 1920 the monastery was closed and used as a historical museum. In 1992 it was returned to the Church. At the place were two rusty tanks (of the WW-I and WW-II times) stood now there is the monument seen in the picture. It marks and honors the 2000-anniversary of birth of Jesus Christ. All buildings in the monastery territory have been completely restored.

Besides the monument and administrative and educational buildings seen in the picture there are two beautiful churches in the monastery, Pokrovskiy cathedral and Ozeryanska church. The cathedral is in the Top-7 list of the most interesting Kharkiv’s sights. Both need individual representation. I am going to do so in the near future.

GPS coordinates: 49.99200 Lat, 36.22950 Long

Waylim, paololg, tedesse, Clementi, jhm, Rosam, swiatopelk777, shevchenko, skippy007, Gerrit, belido, jlbrthnn, feather, loves_summer, mkamionka, josepmarin trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Waylim (11093) 2008-12-26 23:43

Sergiy
This is a very beautiful square, the statues and the surrounding architecture is very beautiful. Technically you have done an excellent job, The picture has very good details. The colors and light is well balance with beautiful and natural feel. The statues is a little too much placed in the center, but I think you also try to get as much of the building and tree to the left, so I understand your dilema, and it a tough call. Oveall, It's a beautiful image. thanks
Way

toto (18755) 2008-12-27 4:55

Bonjour,
belle photo de ce christ superbe de cette église Orthodox, excusez si le nom n' est pas juste, beau bâtiment a l' architecture agréable.
Jolies couleurs, bonne netteté de l' ensemble.

Rosa et moi vous souhaitons de bonnes fêtes et une excellente année 2009 , qu' elle vous apporte du bonheur, de l' argent et des photos superbes.

paololg (14129) 2008-12-27 7:39

Ciao Sergiy,
I have looked at the your beautiful gallery and I have to tell you that you are really a good photographer. Also this your last photo is very beautiful, captured by a perfect POV. The management of the zones of light and shade is excellent and it allows us to admire all the details of the statue and the houses. You have done really a good work, compliment!
Ciao. have an happy w.e.!
Paolo

ed_galagan (374) 2008-12-29 2:39

Hi Sergiy!

I respect your love to Ukrainian architecture and art! Thank you for the post!

Regards,
Edward

tedesse (13210) 2008-12-29 11:38

Witaj!
Ladny kadr i kompozycja,
Piekne kolory i dobra ostrosc.
Pozdrawiam
Tadeusz

Clementi (44989) 2008-12-29 14:13

Ciao Sergiy,
first compliments for your beautiful gallery. of this photo I like a lot the perfect management of the light that was not easy seen the different illuminations. interesting the note and thanks to have made know me a new splendid angle of this world.
nice job
Giorgio

jhm (83193) 2008-12-31 3:16

Hello Sergiy,

A springtime picture excellent presentation.
This is a very beautiful square, also wonderful buildings around the square, nice architecture image too.
Excellent perspective and good depth sharpness. TFS.
Happy New Year and Healthy 2009.

Pleasant evening.
John

nipunjotsoni (112) 2008-12-31 3:42

Hello Dear wish you a very happy new year.. :)

Rosam (297) 2009-01-01 4:52

Hello Sergiy,
wonderful perspective and
fantastic colours.
Best wishes for 2009
Happy New Year
Rosa

swiatopelk777 (9120) 2009-01-01 5:53

Hi Sergiy!
Interesting monastery. Amazing sculpture. Nice light and colors. Good take.
Greetings from Warszawa!

dumbo (4368) 2009-01-01 7:31

Hello Sergiy,
Nice monument and beautiful architecture. Good composition and colors.
Have a great year 2009!

Regards,
Eino

mapek61 (3927) 2009-01-01 15:18

Witaj Sergiej
Interesting place. Good job.
Pozdrawiam
Marek

shevchenko (10030) 2009-01-01 18:41

Hi Sergiy,
Good pov to show the statue between these two religious architectures, nice color and shading, thanks for sharing a peaceful corner in the city.
I wish you A Great New Year 2009!
Ally

skippy007 (7285) 2009-01-01 22:02

Hello Sergiy, Thank you for commenting on my foto & your good wishes. I like the natural colours & detail in this shot, captured from a good POV & with excellent light capturing all the details. I read your informative & interesting note, thank you.
I also wish you & your loved ones a Happy New Year.
Regards
Santo

Gerrit (36157) 2009-01-02 10:06

Hi Sergiy,
well composed photo in excellent soft tones and beautiful light,
Have a great year,
Gerrit

belido (16775) 2009-01-03 11:46

Hi Sergiy,

you know there are many Ukrainians in southern Brazil?
Well, what an interesting architecture. The place looks really beautiful and clean...perfect for a walk (and some photos of course!). Your image is very well presented, clarity and definition are very good. Great job!
Regards,
Carlos
PS: Z Novym Rokom!

jlbrthnn (38775) 2009-01-04 4:11

Hello Sergiy,
It is an image of a perfect clearness, one can almost read the names engraved on the monument. The colors are right and natural. I like framing, and the position of the statue in foreground. Congratulations.
Have a nice sunday
Cordially
Joël

ElAprendiz (7370) 2009-01-04 13:44

It's a nice scene, and the point of view that you used, it allows us to appreciate different angles draft that could be used. I like the composition, particularly the sculpture off the facades of beautiful architecture, in a balanced frame.

The 2009 is full of happiness and success for you and your whole family.

John

Juntas (3504) 2009-01-04 16:08

Hi Sergiy. So many beautiful elements: The statue, the architecture, the trees and a great sky. Great composition, beautiful colors and definition. Well done. Reagards. PAulo

feather (50070) 2009-01-05 4:20

The buildings have been renovated beautifully and provide a wonderful background for Christ's millennium statue. Like Way I feel the statue is a bit too central in the frame for a really good composition, but I can see your intention was to show both buildings and to do that the statue has to be central. It's always a dilemma to fulfil both TE's main objective and have a perfectly composed photo. You did a good job.
Kath

loves_summer (763) 2009-01-07 0:42

Hi Sergiy,
Nice colours and architecture. I also like your perspective and composition that showcases this interesting monument. Thank you for the detailed note as well.
Best Regards,
Ashley

jafadabret (40217) 2009-01-19 6:35

Bonjour Sergiy.
C'est une photo très réussie tant pour la composition très équilibrée que pour les couleurs et la lumière.
Excellent !
Jacques

janusz2054 (921) 2009-01-22 6:47

Hi Sergiy,
Nice monument and beautiful square.
Good composition and nice light.

Janusz

mkamionka (4876) 2009-01-28 8:00

Hi Sergiy,
That is a pretty little square. I never seen anything from Kharkiv before, and now thanks to your shots I can sightsee this beautiful town.
After your note I became curious how the bank notes from Ukraine look like, may be I will find them in internet.
There are couple of places including Ukraine which I would love to visit as a tourist but because I come from southern-east Poland, Tarnow, it seems to me that I may visit the places closer to my hometown in the further future if I may be come back home. So that is why I can enjoy Ukraine only from your shots now and that is why I am looking forward to see more.
M

jmdias (19753) 2009-05-04 3:09

sergiy

very interesting and beautiful square. I liked the way you positioned the sculpture and the colored buildings around, perfect light and pov

hugs

jorge

josepmarin (34017) 2009-05-25 5:19

Hi Sergiy,
The elements are organized well for this composition, the statue in the center of the image attracts our look, while offers us a nice contrast with the architecture that surrounds it.
The light and the colors are perfectly managed.
Nice work.
Best regards,
Josep