KIEV. The capital of a government and of a general government of the same name, a third class fortress. and the oldest of the famous cities in Russia (Slap: Russia. I) 4). It is situated on the right bank of the Dnieper in latitude 50° 27' North and longitude 30° 30' East, (324 miles south west of Moscow and 270 miles north of Odessa. It lies on and amid several hills. The lower parts of the town are annually flooded by the Dnieper. Kiev is divided into the three principal parts of Old Kiev, time upper town, Petchersk with the famous monastery and the old fortifications. and the low-lying lousiness quarter of Podol. There are besides twelve suburbs, incorporated with the city at comparatively recent periods. Two mag nificent iron bridges reach across the Dnieper. One of them is a cable bridge 3510 feet long.
The prominent part played by Kiev, `the mother of Russian cities.' in the political and ecclesiastical history of the nation naturally has had an influence on the local architecture, the ancient (-burettes, monasteries, and historical re mains making it one of the most interesting of cities. The Petcherskaya Lavra (monastery of caves, named in reference to the original build ings) is a celebrated monastery. It was founded by the Metropolitan Hilarion in the eleventh century, and for a long time served as a model for other Russian monasteries. It was destroyed by the Tatars during their first invasion, hut was rebuilt in the fourteenth eentury. It occupies a prominent site on the Dnieper, is surrounded by strong walls, and forms a separate town with its streets of cells, inns, and chnrches, printing presses, and schools. The great church of the monastery contains the tombs of many ecclesiasti cal dignitaries, and its treasury is filled with ancient Bibles, sacred vessels and ecclesiastical costumes. The original caves of the monastery now possess the remains of numerous saints, and are visited annually by throngs of pilgrims from all parts of Russia. The Monastery of Saint Vladimir has a church of the twelfth century, with well-preserved ancient frescoes. The famous Cathedral of Saint Sophia. built by Varoslay. in 1037, and modeled after the Church of Saint Sophia in Constantinople, has many specimens of ancient paintings and sacred relies. Other interesting ecclesiastical edifices are the Church of the Three Saints, founded by the Crand Duke Vladimir in 9S9 and rebuilt in 169(1; the Church of Saint Cyril, a twelfth-century edifice with ancient frescoes; and the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, a Renaissance structure of the eighteenth century. The new Cathedral of Saint Vladimir, decorated with excellent frescoes. is considered one of the finest churches in Russia. The secular•• edifices are of far less interest. The Imperial palace, a
French Renaissmee building. contains collec tions of objects of art. One of the most inter esting historical remains is the 'Golden Gate,' a restored portion of the ancient fortifications. The town hall and the buildings of the Uni versity of Saint Vladimir are also noteworthy. The university was founded in 15S$ at Vilna and was removed to Kiev iu 1S33. It has four faculties—history, mathematics, law, and medi eine.—and in 1901 the total attendance was 2316, of whom a large number were medical students. The university library has 118,000 volumes. Among other educational institutions arc a theological academy which was founded in 1588 and which was for a long time the best known institution of its kind in Russia. a poly technic institute, five gymnasia. a military school, and several other special schools. There are also a museum containing a fine collection of ancient icons. crosses, and other sacred objects, a num ber of scientific associations, hospitals, philan thropic institutions. and three theatres. Kiev is the scat of a metropolitan.
The chief industries of Kiev are sugar-refining, milling and distilling, and the manufacture of tobacco. paper, chemicals, machinery, hardware, etc. It forms one of the chief centers of the Russian beet-sugar trade, and deals heavily in grain, live stock, and timber. It is famous for its conserved fruits. Its commercial interests are promoted by a stock exchange and a good harbor. An important fair is held annually in February. The population was 186.041 in 1889 and 249,530 in 1902. During the summer it is increased by sonic 200,000 pilgrims.
The origin of Kiev is obscure and legendary. It is known to have existed as early as the fifth century. In the ninth century it became the capital of an independent principality, and at tained wide fame during the reign of Vladimir, when, after the introduction of Christianity, it became the religious centre of Russia. Its pros perity can to an end with the thirteenth cen tury, its splendor and wealth having made it the object of attacks on the part of the neighbor ing tribes and later of the 'Mongols. It came under the rule of Lithuania in 1320. and began to revive, soon succeeding in attaining important municipal privileges. It was given Magdeburg rights in 1499. Under the favorable rule of Lith uania the city also resumed its former position :is a religions centre of Westomi Russia. and in the sixteenth century played a prominent part in the religious controversy between the Greek Orthodox Church and the 'Ciliates. It passed with Lithuania to Poland in 1569. It became Russian in 166S. The fortifications were re stored by Peter the Great.