View of Chernigiv: the city takes special pride in its churches Lyubech: the \

Chernigiv oblast is located in northeast Ukraine, in the region of Northern Livoberezhya bordering on Belarus and Russia.  As a result of the 1986 Chernobyl catastrophe, 115 communities in Chernigiv and Ripki rayions were contaminated and are today categorized as Chernobyl-affected areas.

Nonetheless, the region still boasts many historic monuments and places of interest, as well as one of the most ancient cities of Ukraine, Chernigiv, capital of the oblast, whose history spans over 1300 years.  The land of Chenigivschyna was first settled by early Slavic tribes 150,000 years ago, and later, at the end of the 1st millennium A.D., by the tribal community of Siveryans.  In the time of Kyiv Rus, Chernigiv Principality was one of the largest in the state, and was in competition for power with Kyiv.  In the early 17th century, the land of Chernigiv-Siverschyna was part of the Great Lithuanian Principality, then of the Moscow Tsardom and later of Rech Pospolita.  In the late 17th-early 18th centuries, Chernigivschyna was the centre of Hetmanschina, and in the 19th-early 20th centuries, it was a province of the Russian Empire. In 1932 Chernigiv Region, as it is known today, first appeared.

Each of these eras left their mark on the great historical and cultural heritage of the region, represented by some 5,000 archeological, architectural and sculptural monuments, which are preserved by historical, cultural and architectural reserves and museums. The unique beauty of these monuments is emphasized by the charming nature of Chernigiv Polissya and the forest-steppe.

The region’s depository of architectural monuments of the pre-Mongolian period is the richest in Ukraine and Russia, including Spasopreobrazhensky Cathedral (11th c.), Borysolibsky Cathedral (12th c.), Uspensky Cathedral of Yeltsky Monastery (12th c.), Illinska (12th c.) and Pyatnyska (late 12th-early 13th c.) Churches. Collectively, these sites comprise the National Architectural and Cultural Reserve “Chernigiv of the Olden Days”, which also includes St. Antony’s Caves (11th-12th c.), Yeletsky and Troitsky Monasteries, Chorna Mohyla (“Black Grave”) Mound and the mound in the Boldyn Mountains, a college (founded 1700), a regimental office (Mazepa’s House, late 17th c.), and Katerynynska Church (early 18th c.). The Reserve also houses a collection of 70,000 items exhibited in exhibition galleries and halls.

The ancient town of Lyubech, first mentioned in The Chronicles in 882, is located on the bank of the Dnipro River. Today it is categorized as third zone of contamination from the Chernobyl accident. The magnificent Zamkova (“Castle”) Mount, on which there is a monument in honor of the Lyubetsky Congress of Counts of 1097, has witnessed the most dramatic events of the ages. The cave of Antony Pechersky, native of 11th century Lyubech, has been preserved to the present days.

20 years after the Chernobyl accident Chernigiv Oblast retains its reputation as an attractive tourist region.

Useful links

• www.chernigiv.com Chernigiv Informational Portal
• www.forenet.info/regions/chernigov.php Chernigiv Oblast Site
• www.regadm.cn.ua/cgi-bin/valmenu.sh?p0000.html Chernigiv Oblast Governmental Administration Site

Welcome to Chernigivchina!