Завдання № 1

Read and translate orally the chapters of the book on Ukraine: “Yaroslav the Wise”, “The Sophia Cathedral”. Write out the meanings of the following words from the dictionary and memorize them:

to wage

to gain

to retain

to defeat

to conquer

to encircle

to ensure

rebellion

strife

tribute

tribe

rampart

rein

realm

bishop

value

disastrous

refectory

precious

entire

Завдання № 2

Match the years with the events, as shown below, and translate each sentence in a written form:

1019 – Yaroslav the Wise gained the Kyiv throne.

978 –

988 –

1010 –

1051 –

1054 –

Завдання № 3

Put the verbs in brackets into Past Simple, Present Perfect or Past Perfect (Active or Passive):

1. The architectural aspect of the Sophia Cathedral (to come) down to us.

2. Lands near the Baltic Sea (toconquer) by Yaroslav.

3. While ruling Novgorod Yaroslav the Wise (to refuse) to play the yearly tribute.

4. The first monasteries in Rus (to establish) by his death.

5. Our teacher said that Yaroslav the Wise (to route) an army of Pechenegs in 1037.

Завдання № 4

Answer the following questions on the text:

1. Whose son was Yaroslav the Wise?

2. How many sons had Yaroslav?

3. What towns did Yaroslav build in order to defend his state from the attacks of nomadic tribes?

4. Who initiated construction of the Sophia Cathedral?

5. How did Yaroslav strengthen the international role of Kyiv Rus?

6. Where was Yaroslav the Wise buried?

7. What occasion was the Sophia Cathedral (or St. Sophia of Kyiv) built on?

8. In what style was the Sophia Cathedral ensemble designed?

9. What works are of unique value in the cathedral?

10. Why were the cathedral and the entire set of buildings declared a state monument-museum?

Завдання № 5

Translate in written form marked in the text passages:

11. (to break out) by the end of the 16^th century.

12. Prince Oleh (to rally) round Kyiv Slavic tribes of Eastern Europe in 882.

Yaroslav the Wise

Yaroslav the Wise, born 978, died 20 February 1054 in Kyiv. Grand Prince of Kyiv from 1019; son of Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great, father of seven princes, including Iziaslav, Sviatoslav II, and Vsevolod Yaroslavovych. During his father's reign Yaroslav governed the lands of Rostov (from ca 988) and Novgorod (from 1010). While ruling Novgorod, which became his main power base, he rebelled against his father by refusing to pay the yearly tribute. After his father's death Yaroslav waged war against his brother Sviatopolk I for the Kyiv throne. He defeated Sviatopolk and gained the Kyiv throne.

To retain his authority in northern Rus, in 1021 Yaroslav fought and defeated his cousin Briachyslav Iziaslavych of Polatsk. In 1030 Yaroslav conquered lands between Lake Peipus and the Baltic Sea.

After Mstyslav's death in 1036, Yaroslav annexed his lands and became the ruler of Kyiv Rus except the Polatsk land. In 1043, however, his military expedition against Constantinople ended in disastrous defeat.

To defend his state from the attacks of nomadic tribes, Yaroslav fortified the southern frontier by building along the Ros, the Trubizh, and the Sula the towns of Korsun, Kaniv, Pereiaslav, Lubni, and Lukoml and lines of ramparts, castles, and outposts. In 1037 he routed an army of Pechenegs that had attacked Kyiv, and initiated construction of the St Sophia Cathedral to commemorate his victory. During Yaroslav's reign the cities of Kyiv, Novgorod, Chernihiv, Pereiaslav, Volodymyr-Volynskyi, and Turiv were considerably transformed. Over 400 churches were built in Kyiv alone, which was turned thereby into an architectural rival of Constantinople. Yaroslav's walled inner city in Kyiv covered an area of nearly 60 ha. It was entered through the Golden, Polish, and Jewish Gates, and the St Sophia Cathedral stood in the center, encircled by large palaces.

To strengthen his power and provide order in social and legal relations in his realm, Yaroslav arranged for the compilation of a book of laws called 'Pravda Iaroslavova' (Yaroslav's Justice). During his rule Chistianity spread and grew stronger in Rus and the organizational and hierarchical structure of the Rus church was established. The Rus church was autonomous, and in 1051 Yaroslav initiated the sobor of bishops that chose Ilarion as metropolitan of Kyiv. The first monasteries in Rus were formally established during Yaroslav's reign. He founded a primary school and library at the St Sophia Cathedral and sponsored the translation of Greek and other texts into Church Slavonic, the copying of many books, and the compilation of a chronicle (1037-9).

Yaroslav strengthened the international role of Kyiv Rus through dynastic unions. As a European power Kyiv Rus reached its zenith under his rule. To ensure the unity of his state, Yaroslav introduced primogeniture, according to which his eldest living son, Iziaslav of Turiv, was to succeed him as grand prince and ruler of the Kyiv and Novgorod lands; Sviatoslav would rule the Chernihiv land to Murom, and Tmutorokan; Vsevolod, the Pereiaslav and Rostov lands; Ihor the Volodymyr-Volynskyi land; and Viacheslav, the Smolensk land. As a result Kyiv Rus would never again be united.

Yaroslav was buried in the St Sophia Cathedral, where his marble sarcophagus has been preserved.

The Sophia Cathedral

The Sophia Cathedral or St. Sophia of Kyiv was built during the reign of Prince Yaroslav the Wise to commemorate a great victory gained by the Kyivans at this site over the Pechenehy, who had been constantly threatening Kyiv and devastating Rus lands.

The Sophia Cathedral suffered destiny of many structures of Old Rus. It was ruined in the 13^th century during the Tatar invasion and subsequently suffered many times from wars and religious strife.

Metropolitan Petro Mohyla restored the cathedral in 1633. During the 17-18^th cc, as a result of many alterations, the

Cathedral acquired the architectural aspect which has come down to us. During this time an ensemble of buildings in the style of Ukrainian baroque was created around the cathedral consisting of the Metropolitan’s palace, the refectory church, the belfry and the fence.

Of unique value, from the scientific and the artistic points of view, are the ancient mosaic decorations in the cathedral, which ornament the principal altar, the central dome, the arches and pillars. The art of mosaic inlay work, which was widespread in Byzantium, was further developed in Kyiv. Employing smalts, the artists of the 11^th c. created remarkable pictures.

Most of the ancient frescos were covered by later oil paintings. As a result of research work conducted within the cathedral, the original frescos were discovered. Of considerable interest are the portrait representations, discovered in the central nave, of the members of the family of Yaroslav the Wise: his wife Irina and three daughters – Anna, Yelizaveta and Anastasia. On the opposite side two figures of his younger sons have been preserved. The image of Yaroslav the Wise, which was painted on the western wall, has not come down to us.

The frescos of the two staircase towers depict the life dances, performances of musicians, buffoons, and so forth.

A precious specimen of artistic carving is the white marble sarcophagus of Yaroslav the Wise. Also worthy of attention are the bronze gilded doors in the western wall with ornaments of the 17^th c. and the filigree carved wooden iconostasis of the 18^th c.

The cathedral and the entire set of buildings are of great cultural value for the Ukrainian people. It has therefore been declared a state monument-museum.

ВАРІАНТ № 20