In the center of the village of Zazymia in Brovary Raion, on Desnianska Street, stands the brick Resurrection Church with five small domes and a bell tower. It was consecrated on Easter in 1865. The church is decorated with semi-columns on the corners and a yellow brick pattern, and inside, reinforced concrete choir lofts by the famous Kyiv architect Mykola Hordenin have been preserved. The parish belongs to the Kyiv Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
The Archbishop's Will
Zazymia has long had a wooden Transfiguration church, and in 1706, at the expense of St. Sophia Monastery and the parishioners, a new wooden one was built in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. The initiator of the masonry church was a native of the village, Archbishop Pavlo Subotovsky of Astrakhan and the Caucasus (1771–1832). He bequeathed part of his fortune for the construction of a large brick church—in 1827, he contributed 12,000 rubles in banknotes.
In 1863, an auction for construction was held. Almost all the villagers took part in it: bricks were carted from Vyshhorod, and some were fired on site. The old wooden church was moved to the neighboring village of Pohreby. On Easter, April 17, 1865, the new church was consecrated. In 1900, side altars and a two-tier bell tower were added, and in 1911–1912, reinforced concrete choir lofts were added.
Battle Near the Church and Years of Closure
In 1920, a fierce battle took place near the church between the Bolsheviks and the rebellious residents of Zazymia. The church was damaged: icons, books, and paintings were burned. Six years later it was repaired, but in 1935 the authorities closed the church, and in 1937 the NKVD executed the rector, Mykhailo Podilskyi. The church was turned into a granary—holes from partitions are still visible in the floor. During World War II, the church was reopened and has been active ever since.
The church has three altars: the main one in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, the left one of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the right one of the Archangel Michael.
How to Get There
Zazymia is located just beyond the northeastern border of Kyiv, near Troieshchyna, on the way to the Desna River. Minibus taxis run here from Kyiv from the left-bank metro stations. The church is in the center of the village on Desnianska Street.
Tip
The church is active, so please behave quietly during services. After visiting, you can go to the Desna River, which is a few kilometers from Zazymia. Read more about the region in the article about Kyiv Polissia.
