The Treasures of Ukraine's Hetmanate
Precious gifts from the Ukrainian nobility to Orthodox churches and monasteries
Treasury is a notable contribution to cultural heritage. The NMIU Treasury houses a unique collection of precious artifacts gifted as contributions from Ukrainian hetmans and nobles to churches and monasteries. This philanthropic tradition originated in the early days of the principality of Ukraine and was revived during the existence of the Cossack state of Hetmanate throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
Oklad. Casing removed from the icon Degtyarivska Mother of God (1700 - 1720) by UnknownNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
These contributions are vivid examples of the Baroque style, which dominated all spheres of cultural life.
The valuables, commissioned by the Cossack government, were crafted by master goldsmiths using gold and silver, and embellished with carving, engraving, multicolored stones, and enamels, as well as depictions of saints.
The valuable contributions of Hetman Ivan Mazepa (1687-1709), who is known as a generous patron of Ukrainian culture and church, are drawing attention, especially his valuable deposits. Among them is a gold-plated robe for the icon of the Blessed Virgin, made by an unknown master at the beginning of the 18th century.
Oklad. Casing removed from the icon Degtyarivska Mother of God (1700 - 1720) by UnknownNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
The historical evidence of the ruler's involvement is his coat of arms "Kurch," located at the bottom.
Bowing before the icon, Ivan Mazepa not only dressed it in luxurious attire but also built a stone temple of the Protection of the Mother of God in the village of Dyhtyariwka near the town of Novhorod-Siverskyi in Chernihiv region.
Before the start of the Great Northern War, during which the issue of Swedish protectorate for Ukraine was to be resolved with the participation of Mazepa and his supporters, the Blessed Mother shed tears in anticipation of misfortune on the icon.
Double wine cups (1697) by Nathanael SchlaubitzNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
Two woman
From the collection of the Museum Treasury come a pair of goblets by Konstantin Mokievsky (1691-1708), a Kyiv colonel and relative of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, crafted by Nathanael Schlaubitz, a goldsmith from the Polish city of Gdansk.
The vessels contain depictions of early Christian martyrs - Faith, Hope, Love, and their mother Sophia - who were named after Christian virtues.
The goblets were donated to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, as indicated by the inscription on the reverse of the tray: "Colonel Konstantin Mokievsky donated 2 vessels to the monastery of the Pechersk on March 9, 1697." .
Gospel in the silver cover (1658) by UnknownNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
Most of the gifts-contributions to the museum belong to church utensils. These are including the Gospel donated by Nizhyn Colonel Vasyl Zolotarenko (1659-1663), according to the gift inscription, to the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Nizhyn
Altar cross (1726) by UnknownNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
The cross - contribution from Vasyl Rodzyanko (1723-1734), a transport officer of the Myrhorod regiment, "to the temple of the Three Holy Hierarchs for the forgiveness of sins in the year AΨKΣ (1726)" and the wine chalices for the liturgy.
This chalice, crafted by Kyiv goldsmith Matvii Narunovych, was donated as a contribution to the Uspensky Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in 1741 by Maria Kvitkova, daughter of Kharkiv Colonel Hryhoriy Kvitka
The next chalice, a gift to the Church of St. Prophet Elijah in Klyshchyntsi (now the village of Zolotonosha district, Cherkasy region) from a simple pious Cossack, Stepan Vereshchaka
Teapot with the coat of arms (1715) by Ivan RavychNational Museum of the History of Ukraine
The museum's treasury preserves deposits from not only the religious but also the secular purpose of the Cossack era.
Among them is a small-sized teapot with the coat of arms of Colonel Stepan Tomara from Pereyaslav, crafted in 1715 by the Kyiv goldsmith Ivan Ravich.
The item resembles a pumpkin in shape, with its spout resembling the head of a goose. The lid of the exhibit is crowned with a coral bead. This precious vessel is a contribution from the treasury of the Uspensky Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Priceless antiques and contributions are living witnesses of history that, according to inscriptions, testify to us about the patrons and benefactors of the Cossack era.
Exhibition. Precious deposits XVII–XIX centuries from the NMIU collection (2022)National Museum of the History of Ukraine
Research and text: Oksana Tereshchuk
Project Сurator: Nataliia Panchenko
Technical implementation: Oleg Mitiukhin, Oksana Mitiukhina, Liudmila Klymuk
Text editor: Nataliia Panchenko
Translation: Dmytro Mitiukhin
Selection of exhibits: Svitlana Berezova
Photographer: Oleg Mitiukhin, Dmytro Klochko
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