KIEV. 



305 



which stands the church of St. Andrew, one of the most noteworthy in the place. 

 The cathedral of St. Sophia is situated on the same plateau, in the heart of the old 

 town (Stariy Kiyev), and near the " Goldeii Gate," both of which are amongst the 

 oldest monuments in Kussia, partly saved from destruction at the time of Batu- 

 Khan's invasion. The handsome Kreshtalik thoroughfare occupies the ravine 

 between the St. Sophia and Lipki terraces ; it leads to the southern bluff covered 



Fig. 157. — Kiev, or Kiyev. 



Scale 1 : CCO.OOO. 



e..o-:p. 



SS'^O' 



SO'SO- 



E.ofG, 



SCAO' 



5 Miles. 



by the Lavra churches and convent, which is regarded as the most sacred spot in 

 Russia, because it overlooks the place where the first Russians were baptized. 

 The rock is pierced by a number of galleries, possibly of the same origin as those 

 farther north in which remains of the stone age have been found. Some, however, 

 were certainly excavated by St. îlilarion and other anchorites, and these have 

 since been converted into shrines, underground chapels, and niches containing 

 sarcophagi. Here the sandy layers between two argillaceous strata have the 

 property of preserving bodies from decay, and these have consequently been 

 regarded in popular estimation as the miraculously preserved remains of saints. 

 166 



