Researchers discover surviving fragment of Kyiv 19th-century monastery wall

Collapsed section of the wall and the vault of an underground passage of the Florovsky Monastery revealed during a site inspection. Photo: Ty Kyiv

On November 16, 2025, researchers in Kyiv discovered a surviving section of the 19th-century wall of the Florovsky Monastery. The fragment, about 30 meters long, was found on Zamkova Hill by staff of the “Ancient Kyiv” Historical and Architectural Reserve. The report was published by Ty Kyiv.

According to the head of the reserve, Roman Malenkov, the wall section survived thanks to the extremely difficult terrain. “Soviet vandals failed to dismantle this fragment because of the incredibly steep slope – in some places we literally had to crawl on all fours,” he noted.

In addition to the wall, the team discovered previously undocumented brick vaults above passages leading into unknown underground spaces. Researchers believe these may have been storage cellars, crypts on the grounds of the old monastic cemetery, or even drainage collectors for channeling rainwater.

During the inspection, specialists found brick markings reading “KP 1843,” confirming the structure’s mid-19th-century dating.

“Such markings are direct evidence of the construction period,” the researchers noted.

According to Malenkov, the discovered section is planned to be carefully measured, documented, and added to the site map. The team also intends to explore the newly found underground chambers to determine their function and their potential connection to the monastic complex.

Earlier, UOJ reported that a seal confirming biblical events from the era of Hezekiah was found in Jerusalem.

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