Digitization of the collection of the National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Ancient Chernihiv” has begun

As part of the Mobile Digital Laboratory project, the institution will work for the first time to preserve the “golden collection” in digital form, so this spring they will continue to photograph museum exhibits with high-quality equipment.

“The exclusivity and uniqueness of the Reserve's stock collections lies in their direct connection with the architectural monuments located on its territory. For example, the decoration of St. Borys Hlibskyi Cathedral, an architectural monument of the early twelfth century, is the silver royal gate of the early eighteenth century, which was specially made for the iconostasis of the cathedral at the expense of Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa in Augsburg (Germany) by jeweler Philip Jacob Drentwett IV. The cathedral is also associated with the unique white stone carved capitals of the twelfth century that decorated the cathedral in ancient times and were found during architectural and archaeological research.

The project will preserve the detailed characteristics and features of museum objects from the Conservation Area's collection, as well as make them more accessible for research and education for a wide range of users,” says Natalia Rebrova, director of the Conservation Area.

What will be digitized? 

• Icons of the XVII-XIX centuries, which are part of the main fund of the reserve.
• Ancient documents and manuscripts that reflect the history of Chernihiv region.
• Unique archaeological finds discovered during research on the territory of Chernihiv.

The National Architectural and Historical Reserve “Chernihiv Ancient” includes 26 architectural monuments of national importance, including six monuments of the pre-Mongol period, which are considered one of the oldest in Eastern Europe.

The implementation of the project by the team of the Agency for Cultural Resilience (ACURE) was made possible thanks to the support of international partners: Cultural Emergency Response, ALIPH Foundation, and the Dutch National Archives.