A bust of Mazepa unveiled in the Lavra; a monument to the hetman will replace Lenin’s in Kyiv

Bust of Ivan Mazepa inaugurated at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

According to Главком: On June 28, a bust of Hetman Ivan Mazepa was unveiled at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra to mark the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s Constitution. This event represents a major step in honoring Ukrainian history and national memory. The bust was created by artists Borys Krylov and Oles Sydoruk, with historical consultation provided by Doctor of Sciences Olha Kovalevska and Candidate of Historical Sciences Oleksandr Alfiorov. The architectural design was handled by Viktor Yurkiy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in connection with the unveiling, announced that a monument to Ivan Mazepa will be erected on the site where a Lenin statue once stood on Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. That Lenin monument was toppled in December 2013.

“At that time, Lenin fell-one of the symbols of an empire that for decades tried to dictate to Ukrainians how to live and whom to consider their heroes. Today, the President of Ukraine also announced the installation of a monument to Ivan Mazepa in that very spot,”

said Tetiana Berezhna.

Zelenskyy also signed a decree to commemorate the 975th anniversary of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and to begin preparations for its 1000th anniversary. A consecration ceremony for the memorial is scheduled for July 14, led by Metropolitan Epiphanius. Reflecting on the event’s symbolism, Tetiana Berezhna added:

“The place where a symbol of the empire once fell will now be occupied by a person who became one of the symbols of Ukrainian state-building. This carries a profound historical meaning.”

Commenting on the situation, Maksym Ostapenko noted that

“for centuries, Russia tried to deprive Ukrainians of their own memory: to erase Mazepa from history, brand him a traitor, appropriate his legacy, and impose a foreign view of the past.”

He also emphasized that

“the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is impossible to imagine without Hetman Ivan Mazepa,”

because

“here, chronicles were written, education, printing, iconography developed, and Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural tradition was shaped.”

Additionally, Viktor Shlinchak shared his impressions of the bust:

“I went to the Lavra to see if it was actually installed, or if it had already been taken down after the president’s visit. It’s really there. They say it was organized in just a few days, even though it had been planned for years. It’s like a big middle finger to Moscow.”

Iryna Kostenko also highlighted the event’s significance, noting that

“despite the heat, I rushed to the Lavra to see with my own eyes the bust of the greatest and most illustrious ruler, Ivan Mazepa-father of the homeland and defender of the church.”

Symbolism of the event and its significance for national memory

Thus, the unveiling of Ivan Mazepa’s bust at the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra has become a landmark event for Ukraine, underscoring the importance of historical memory and symbolizing the restoration of national heroes in the consciousness of Ukrainians.

The bust’s inauguration reflects a growing interest in Ukrainian society regarding its own history and national identity. The event occurred amid active political and social changes in Ukraine, indicating a drive to restore historical justice and elevate the role of national heroes in the modern context. Placing a monument to Mazepa where Lenin’s statue was removed highlights the shift in how history and symbolism are perceived, as well as the effort to revive national memory within society.

As Ukraine continues to honor its historical figures, the recent unveiling of a monument to Colonel Bolbochan in Kamianets-Podilskyi highlights the nation's commitment to remembering its past. This event, which celebrates the legacy of the Ukrainian People's Republic, further emphasizes the importance of recognizing those who played pivotal roles in the country's history. To learn more about this significant tribute, you can read about the monument to Bolbochan and its implications for Ukrainian identity.