The Church of Michael and Theodore stands on Hetmana Polubotka Street in Chernihiv, on the grounds of the former estate of acting hetman Pavlo Polubotok. It is the only church in Ukraine consecrated in honor of Prince Mykhailo Vsevolodovych of Chernihiv and his boyar Fedir, 13th-century martyrs.
The Prince Who Did Not Bow
According to legend, in 1246 Prince Mykhailo and Boyar Fedir arrived at Batu Khan's headquarters. They refused to undergo the humiliating ritual of worshiping fire and Mongol idols and were executed. Their relics were buried in the city's main cathedral, the Transfiguration Cathedral, and both were canonized shortly thereafter. In 1572, the relics were moved to Moscow, where they remain to this day.
The Church Near the Hetman's House
Construction of the church began in 1801 next to the house of Pavlo Polubotok, the acting hetman who died in the Peter and Paul Fortress in 1724. Due to a lack of funds, the work dragged on until 1806, and the church was consecrated in 1808. Initially, it featured classicist traits with baroque elements, and in the second half of the 19th century, following remodeling, it acquired a "Byzantine" appearance. The church operated under the Chernihiv Theological Seminary.
During the Soviet era, the church was closed, and in the late 20th century it was returned to the faithful. In 2008, Nizhyn master O. Koshel crafted a new gold-and-white iconostasis for it. Today, the church belongs to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
How to Get There
The church stands at 40 Hetmana Polubotka Street, north of the center of Chernihiv. It is easily accessible by public transport or about a 25-minute walk from the Val. Other city churches are featured in the article "Chernihiv: The Ukrainian Ravenna on the Desna."
