Svake godine zadnje nedjelje u svibnju slavi se Dan Kijeva. To je simboličan praznik, jer nitko ne zna točan datum osnutka glavnog grada Ukrajine. Uvjetna starost Kijeva je preko 1500 godina. Ali ni to nije točno. Možda je Kijev osnovan još prije našeg tisućljeća, u vrijeme Skita. Drugi pak smatraju da je Kijev “rođen” u 5. stoljeću naše ere. Međutim, za Kijevljane i goste grada kestena to i nije toliko važno. Jer Kijev je prekrasan, koliko god godina imao.

Legenda o osnutku Kijeva

Kao i mnogi drugi drevni gradovi, Kijev ima svoju legendu o osnutku. Dakle, u davna vremena, kada su na ovim zemljama živjeli Poljani, došla su na obronke iznad Dnjepra tri brata sa sestrom. Zvali su se Kij, Šček i Horiv, a sestra Libid. Osnovali su utvrdu na brdu. A pored nje, usred šume, gradić. U spomen na njih u Kijevu i danas teče rijeka pod nazivom Libid. A u središtu grada uzdižu se brda – Horivica i Ščekavica. Grad je dobio ime u čast najstarijeg brata.

Spomeniki

Spomenicima osnivačima grada možete se diviti na Lavrskoj obali iznad Dnjepra. A na Poštanskom trgu postavljene su simpatične skulpture osnivača glavnog grada u obliku djece. Dječaci se igraju s brodićima. A sestrica prijateljski maše ručicom s klupice. Skulpture djece oblače se za praznike u nacionalne i tematske kostime. Na fotografiji uz ovaj članak – još jedan spomenik osnivačima glavnog grada, koji se nalazi u centru grada na Trgu neovisnosti.

Kijev danas

Danas je Kijev najveći grad Ukrajine. Proteže se na obalama Dnjepra u dužini od 20 kilometara. Prije početka velikog rata, stanovništvo Kijeva i okolice iznosilo je gotovo 3 milijuna ljudi. Ovdje se nalazi mnoštvo zanimljivih muzeja i povijesnih spomenika, kazališta, cirkus, uspinjača, botanički vrtovi, najmodernije koncertne dvorane i restorani. Unatoč stalnoj prijetnji od ruskih granatiranja, Kijev cvjeta i čeka mir i goste. I jednog sunčanog svibanjskog jutra prošetati ćemo i mi od Sofijske katedrale do Majdana, pojesti kijevsku perepičku i diviti se cvatu kestena u mirnom glavnom gradu Ukrajine.

The legend of Kyiv

Every year on the last Sunday of May, Kyiv Day is celebrated. This is a symbolic holiday, as no one knows the exact founding date of Ukraine’s capital. Kyiv’s approximate age is over 1500 years, but even this is not precise. Perhaps Kyiv was founded even before our millennium, during the Scythian times. Others believe that Kyiv “was born” in the 5th century AD. However, for Kyivans and guests of the chestnut city, this is not so important. After all, Kyiv is beautiful, no matter how old it is.

Founding legend of Kyiv

Like many other ancient cities, Kyiv has its own founding legend. So, in ancient times, when the Poliany lived on these lands, three brothers and their sister came to the slopes above the Dnipro. Their names were Kyi, Shchek, and Khoryv, and their sister was Lybid. They founded a fortress on a hill. And next to it, amidst the forest, a small town. In their memory, a river named Lybid still flows in Kyiv to this day. And in the city center, the hills Khoryvytsia and Shchekavytsia rise. The city received its name in honor of the eldest of the brothers.

Monuments

Monuments to the city’s founders can be admired on the Lavrska embankment above the Dnipro. And on Poshtova Square, charming sculptures of the capital’s founders in the form of children have been installed. The boys play with toy boats, and their sister waves kindly from a bench. The children’s sculptures are dressed in national and thematic costumes for holidays. The photo accompanying this article shows another monument to the capital’s founders, located in the city center on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square).

Kyiv today

Currently, Kyiv is the largest city in Ukraine. It stretches along the banks of the Dnipro for 20 kilometers. Before the start of the full-scale war, the population of Kyiv and its suburbs was almost 3 million people. It is home to countless interesting museums and historical monuments, theaters, a circus, a funicular, botanical gardens, the most modern concert halls, and restaurants. Despite the constant threat of Russian shelling, Kyiv is flourishing and awaits peace and guests. And one sunny May morning, we too will walk from Saint Sophia Cathedral to Maidan, eat a Kyiv perepichka (fried pastry), and admire the chestnut blossoms in the peaceful capital of Ukraine.