The Saint Yuriy Cathedral

The Greek-Catholic cathedral of Saint Yuriy is the pearl of Ukrainian architecture. The cathedral is situated on the west a little aside of historical centre of Lviv. Near the temple the park is approaching until the cathedral, the trees are calling with its silhouette and sculpture design. It as if goes on and finishes the hill’s slopes, creating the indissoluble whole of nature and architecture.

The first stone temple of Saint Yuriy was four-columned of Byzantine type.

In 1743-1744 the temple’s building was taken to pieces. In 1751 on that place the majestic Greek-Catholic cathedral in style of rococo has been laid according the project of architect B.Meretyn.

The new cathedral’s erecting has been lasting for almost twenty years. At first the cathedral had been appointed for the monks of Basylian order till 1817. Since that time the cathedral became the church and archbishop’s residence has been erected near it.

The cathedral’s ensemble is one of the most prominent monuments of such architecture in Ukraine.

At the same time with the cathedral’s building the other buildings of the ensemble have been building anew. In 1761-1762 the new stone building was erected at the place of wooden metropolitan palace, and in some time the brick three-storied monastery. The architectural complex is completed with the stone fence, metal bars and two gates, which surrounds the whole monastery. The gates, built in 1780 are finished with baroque waved frontons. The park and flowerbed are laid around the metropolitan palace. And the first finished building was the new northern wing of the monastery. The complex units the yard, which goes to the temple, situated at the left. From the northern side the bell tower borders with the cathedral’s ensemble.

The Saint Yuriy Cathedral, surrounded with numerous buildings, is the main component of the big architectural ensemble. It is one of not many architectural complexes, built completely, to the least of details, in unitary stylish design and with the same mastery. The special feature of this ensemble, characterized for baroque epoch, is that it opens to the viewer not at once but gradually. From the ancient times the square had been situated in front of the cathedral, which since XVII till the middle of XIX century was famous for its fairs.

On the right of the temple there are the delicate garden bars and the gates with the statues of the Faith and the Hope. On the left there is the chapter’s house – the place for meeting of Basylian order’s monks, and later – the episcopacy’s collegiums. Opposite the cathedral there is the portico’s colonnade of the metropolitan residence.

The quiet and severe decoration of these erections underlines the dominant cathedral’s role in the general ensemble.

The cathedral stands on the high terrace; it is stone, with cross-shaped cupolas. The combination of three naves temple with forms of basilica is typical for it. The internal facades of the temple are dismembered with pilasters, which come forward from the walls.

The small architectural forms such as columns, fences, bars, stairs and facades are decorated with pilasters.

The skillfully fulfilled architectural details, with a plot and decorative sculpture ornamentation, the general composition create the rare image. The temple occupies the prominent place in Ukrainian baroque architecture.