Kyiv Region's Best Photo of 2025
A photograph of St. Michael's Church in Boyarka has been named the top image in the Kyiv region for the 2025 Wiki Loves Monuments competition. Known formally as the Church of the Holy Archangel Michael, this architectural gem was captured by photographer Oleksandr Malyon on February 15, 2025. The shot was taken on the grounds of an ancient settlement overlooking the Church Pond.
St. Michael's Church holds deep historical significance as a locally recognized architectural monument, built between 1898 and 1901 under the design of architect Mykola Gordenin. Originally constructed from wood, it was later clad in brick. The settlement site where the church stands dates back to the 5th or 6th century, underscoring the location's rich cultural heritage.
The Wiki Loves Monuments Competition
Wiki Loves Monuments is an international photo contest aimed at documenting cultural heritage sites for Wikipedia. In Ukraine, this marks the fourth edition of the competition; in 2025, participants uploaded over 450,000 images of cultural heritage objects. St. Michael's Church previously represented the Kyiv region in this contest back in 2015.
Oleksandr Malyon, the winning photographer, received praise for his work.
“The photographer focused more on documenting the settlement where the church is located. We very much hope our participants will pay attention to documenting the region's wooden churches in particular.”– Olha Milianovych.
In 2024, a photo of the Red Building of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv took second place in the international Wiki Loves Monuments competition. That image was captured by Oleksandr Ryzhkov. News of the Kyiv region's winning photo was shared by the editorial team of Glavkom, citing the Kyiv Regional State Administration, while the university photo's second-place finish was announced by competition organizers.
The recognition of St. Michael's Church as the best photo in the Kyiv region highlights the importance of cultural heritage and its documentation. The Wiki Loves Monuments competition sparks interest in historical sites, helping preserve them in public memory for future generations. Such events also raise global awareness of Ukraine's architectural legacy, promoting tourism routes and cultural exchange.