Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Kiev

St. Sophia Cathedral, XI Century AD

6 May 2015 | From Natalia of Ukraine

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev is an outstanding architectural monument of Kievan Rus'. The cathedral is one of the city's best known landmarks and the first heritage site in Ukraine to be inscribed on the World Heritage List along with the Kiev Cave Monastery complex.

Aside from its main building, the cathedral includes an ensemble of supporting structures such as a bell tower and the House of Metropolitan. In 2011 the historic site was reassigned from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Regional Development of Ukraine to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. One of the reasons for the move was the fact that both "Sofia Kyivska" and Kiev Pechersk Lavra are recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Program as one complex, while in Ukraine the two were governed by different government entities.

The cathedral's name comes from the 6th-century Hagia Sophia cathedral in Constantinople (meaning Holy Wisdom, and dedicated to the Holy Wisdom rather than a specific saint named Sophia). Architecture-wise, its model could have been the 13-domed oaken Holy Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod (c. 989), which Yaroslav I the Wise determined to imitate in stone as a sign of gratitude to the citizens of Novgorod who had helped him secure the Kievan throne in 1019.

Source: Wikipedia

Domes of Lviv

The city of Lviv

17 Apr 2015 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Lviv is a city in Western Ukraine that used to be the Capital of East Galicia. It is the biggest city of the region and one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine.. Its historic city center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city can be described as mysterious and architecturally lovely that exudes the same authentic Central European charm. The historical heart of Lviv with its old buildings and cobblestone streets has survived Soviet and German occupations during the Second World War largely unscathed. 

Lviv's more Western European flavour has earned it the nickname the "Little Paris of Ukraine", and is famous for its distinctive green-domed churches and intricate architecture.

Written in the faces

Three men and a map

17 Apr 2015 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

I was having a hard time trying to translate the words written in front of the postcard as some are in cursive. However I'm pretty sure the last word is translated to Ukraine. It can't be 'Greetings from Ukraine' as a whole though. Hmm or is it? Maybe I should ask Lidiya next time...

The postcard shows three men standing behind each other, and onto them a part of Ukraine's map is drawn. I'm not certain if the three men represents something. But I can tell that they are wearing a Hutsul, a traditional Ukrainian dress.

Probably the first most noticeable feature in the Hutsuls’ dress is that men like to wear more decorations on their dress than women. Men’s shirts have lavishly embroidered fronts, and embroidered strips around the neck and on the sleeves.

Merry Christmas from Ukraine

                                     

 

Christmas in Ukraine

3 Feb 2015 | From Lidiya of Ukraine 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym!"

Along with the Christmas card is a sheeps-in-love 2015 calendar from Lidiya. Many Ukrainians have a day off on Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is an annual public holiday across Ukraine and falls on January 7, the Orthodox Christmas date. The period from January 7-14 is a festive week, in which it is customary for some people to dress up, visit homes, sing Christmas songs (eg. Kolyadka), and wish each other blessings.

'Sviata Vechera' or Holy Supper is the central tradition of the beautiful Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes. The dinner table sometimes has a few wisps of hay on the embroidered table cloth as a reminder of the manger in Bethlehem. Many Canadian and American families wear their Ukrainian embroidered shirts on this occasion.

At the end of the Sviata Vechera, the family often sings Kolyadky, Ukrainian Christmas Carols. In many communities the old Ukrainian tradition of carolling is carried on by groups of young people and members of organizations and churches calling at homes and collecting donations.

Ukrainian Christmas customs are based not only on Christian traditions, but to a great degree on those of the pre-Christian, pagan culture and religion. The Ukrainian society was basically agrarian at that time and had developed an appropriate pagan culture, elements of which have survived to this day.

The Ukrainian Opera

A postcard

A magnet

Ukrainian National Opera House in Kiev

3 Dec 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

The Kiev Opera group was formally established in the summer of 1867, and is the third oldest in Ukraine, after Odessa Opera and Lviv Opera. Today, the Kiev Opera Company performs at the National Opera House of Ukraine named after Taras Shevchenko in Kyiv.

Along with 3 other theaters, the Ukrainian National Opera House received the highest status of being a National Theater. These theaters perform different kind of genres. There are musical-drama theaters, dramatic theaters, theaters for children and youth, doll theaters, theaters of opera and ballet, operetta, etc.

Ukraine is a musical nation and the theatrical life of Ukraine has substantially diversified. Ukrainian theater is now developing at accelerated rates, successfully making up what it missed on what taboo was imposed before.

I love Ukraine!

Speak love in Ukrainian

3 Dec 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Ukrainian language is the official language of Ukraine. It is one of the East Slavic languages like Russian and Belorussian. These languages use the Cyrillic alphabeth. Ukrainian language is currently emerging from a long period of decline. But it is mostly prevalent in Western Ukraine (where it undergone some Polish influence).

I love you in Ukrainian can be translated as 'Ya tebe kohayu!' or 'Ya tebe lyublyu!' which are more informal, and then 'Ya vas kohayu!' or 'Ya vas lyublyu!' which are formal or can be more romantic. Ukrainians are said to be passionate and affectionate people. Whether it is greeting a friend or parting with a kiss, walking arm in arm, being in a conversation - Ukrainians always find a way to be more deeply affectionate.

They connect to many pleasant things — parents, our friends; beautiful nature, gentle flowers, the trees in the yard, the native language and music, and the like.

The Gorodetsky House

House with Chimeras

24 Nov 2014 | From Nastya of Ukraine

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

In 1901-1903 popular and spectacular Kiev architect Vladislav Gorodezhkii put up a private house that is known as a House with Chimeras. The House of Chimaeras or Gorodetsky House translates in Ukrainian into Budynok z khymeramy. Located on a hillside across the street from the Presidential office in the historic Lypky quarter of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, the six-story Art Nouveau building was built between 1901 and 1902. 

Architect Vladislav Gorodetsky originally constructed the House with Chimaeras for use as his own upmarket apartment building during the period of 1901–1902. However, as the years went by, Gorodetsky eventually had to sell the building due to financial troubles, after which it changed ownership numerous times before finally being occupied by an official Communist Party polyclinic until the early 2000s. When the building was vacated, its interior and exterior decor were fully reconstructed and restored according to Gorodetsky's original plans.

Nowadays, the House of Chimaeras has a dual purpose. It serves as a filial of the National Museum of Arts and as a meeting place for diplomatic and official ceremonies.

Illustration by Marysya Rudska

Fox Love

29 Aug 2014 | From Lesia of Ukraine

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Marysya Rudska is a Ukrainian illustrator who primarily uses watercolour in her illustrations. Her artworks can be described as colorful, dreamy, and whimsical - typical to drawings and illustrations found in children story books. In fact, Marysya has previousy worked as a book illustrator before.

Agricultural landscape of Ukraine

Golden fields under a blue sky

26 Aug 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

The postcard shows a representation of the Ukrainian colors: yellow and blue. The colors in the Ukrainian flag represent golden fields of grain under a clear blue sky, appropriate for a country known as the "bread basket" of its area. Yellow represents light and purity, youth and happiness, harvest, hospitality, love and benevolence. Blue signifies blue skies or air. It can be used to denote good health.

A Husky pup

A husky and its ball

26 Aug 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Husky is a general name for a type of dog used to pull sleds in northern regions, differentiated from other sled-dog types by their fast pulling style. Huskies are also today kept as pets, and groups work to find new pet homes for retired racing and adventure trekking dogs. energetic and athletic. They usually have a thick double coat that can be gray, black, copper red, or white. Huskies are known for pale blue eyes, although they may also have brown eyes, green eyes, blue eyes, or may even have yellow eyes.

I've always wanted a husky as a pet. For me, they are one of the most beautiful dogs. But raising them as pets here in the Philippines  requires a great deal of effort, care and responsibility. They have a strong desire to run, they need company, you have to keep them cool during the dry season, and the list goes on. Yeah, I don't think I'm up for it. Maybe I'm better off with a goldfish first =p

Ukrainian Symbolisms

Flowers and Wheat

26 Aug 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

I was trying to translate the words written in from the postcard. According to Google Translate, "Зі Святом!" means "Congratulations" in English. "Binabati kita" is the closest translation we have for "congratulations" in Filipino.

Sunflower, conflower, wheat, wheat berries - they must hold a strong importance and symbolisms in Ukraine. Sunflower in Ukrainian folklore and tradition is the symbol of the solar energy, of the vigor of life and of well-being. In Ukrainian heraldry, the sunflower symbolizes fertility, unity, solar power and fecundity. Cornflower is a symbol of a subtle and beautiful soul, righteousness and virtue, or purity, modesty and friendliness. There are lots of wheat fields in Ukraine and the Ukranians deemed it reasonable to put the color yellow on their flag. In their culture, wheat wishes for good health and a good harvest.

Spread the love

From Ukraine with love

12 Aug, 2014 | From Lima of Ukraine

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard shows an illustration of Ukrainian lovers holding hands on a cold, snowy day. They are drawn wearing traditional costumes. Ukrainian traditional costume consists of vyshyvanka, zapaska (a skirt) and krajka (woven belt). Often the woven waistcoats with embroidery are carried.

For men, traditional dress includes Kozhukh, Kontusz, Żupan and Sharovary. For women, traditional dress includes Vyshyvanka, Kozhushanka, Ochipok for married women, and Ukrainian wreath for unmarried girls. Garments are made using elaborate structural design, complicated weaving techniques, extensive embroidery, and cutwork needlework.

Illustrated map of Ukraine III

What to see in Ukraine

4 Jul, 2014 | From Ira of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING SWAP

This is my third postcard with an illustrated map of Ukraine in it. Shown in the map is a cute and detailed illustration of Ukrainian symbols, people, and famous sights. I have actually forgotten about this swap after I wrote and sent her postcard. I write a lot of postcards, and I sometimes lose track of them.

Ira apologized for sending the postcard a little late though :) I was thinking for a moment as to with whom I arranged this swap with. Good thing my memory somehow never fails me :p

The main city of East-Central Ukraine

The city of Dnipropetrovsk

19 Jun, 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Dnipropetrovsk is Lidiya's hometown. Simply called as Dnepr, it is a dynamic and lively city. Dnipropetrovsk is Ukraine's fourth largest city. It is located southeast of Ukraine's capital Kiev on the Dnieper River, in the south-central part of the country. Dnipropetrovsk is the administrative centre of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The city is surprising green along the wide and slow-moving Dnieper river and has remarkable embankments, long boulevards and spacious parks. It is also the major centre of high-technology industries, education, machine-building, metallurgy and trade. The city is not only famous for its commercial industry, but also its green hills and deep history.

Sources: Wikipedia, Gorod

Ukrainian National Instrument

Bandura

19 Jun, 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

A bandura is a Ukrainian plucked string folk instrument. It combines elements from the zither and lute, as it was based on its lute-like predecessor, the kobza. It typically has 12 to 68 strings.

Source: Wikipedia

Peace for Ukraine

God Save Ukraine

19 Jun, 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

This postcard is from Lidiya - who also sent me a couple of thank-you postcards before in the Official Postcrossing. In this postcard, the words written is translated to "God save Ukraine". Lidiya relates the current situation of their country which she describes as very tense and insane. People are dying everyday and it seems that they are on a warpath.

Now, they are looking forward the Presidential Elections which is very important for the Ukrainians now. It was held May 25, and I am still to receive news from her about the elections. I hope it will be good news.

Illustration by Nadiya Kushnir

Flowered cat

4 Apr, 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

THANK-YOU POSTCARD (POSTCROSSING)

Nadiya Kushnir is a local artist from Ukraine. For more of her arts, check her deviartart page here.

Sights and scenes: Crimea

Crimea

4 Apr, 2014 | From Lidiya of Ukraine

THANK-YOU POSTCARD (POSTCROSSING)

The Republic of Crimea, officially part of Ukraine, lies on a peninsula stretching out from the south of Ukraine between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. It is separated from Russia to the east by the narrow Kerch Strait.

The Crimean crisis is an ongoing international crisis principally involving Russia and Ukraine. It involves the Crimean Peninsula, a multi-ethnic region which until February 2014 was administered by Ukraine as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the administratively separate municipality of Sevastopol; both are populated by an ethnic Russian majority and a minority of both ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. Currently, the Crimean Peninsula is controlled by the Russian Federation as the Crimean Federal District, a status which is not recognized by the United Nations. The crisis has also influenced riots on the Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine.

Sources: BBC, Wikipedia

Colours of Ukraine

Illustrated map of Ukraine

19 Feb, 2014 | From Laura Emily of Ukraine

FACEBOOK SWAP

Ukraine is the second largest country that is part of contiguous Europe. Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe, bordering Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Ukraine also has borders along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The state flag of Ukraine is a banner of two equally sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow colour, which symbolise the clear blue sky over yellow wheat field.

A Sergey Kuranov photograph

Balance

17 Jan, 2014 | From Kate of Ukraine

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Sergey Kuranov is a photographer from Ukraine. I have quite a number of his works with theme such as this one. To see his photographs, check out his portfolio here :)