Timetable of services in Orthodox churches in Kiev

Monday - Friday: 07:10 and 17:00
Weekends and religious holidays: 08:00 and 19:10

Vydubychi Monastery Vydubychi Monastery is an architectural ensemble situated on a picturesque bank of the Dnieper. Its history spans for more than 900 years. It was built in mid XI century by Prince Vsevolod, son of Yaroslav the Wise (2 Hryvna banknote). The Monastery consistsof St. Archangel Mykhail Church, St. Georg Church and the Spaska Church built in Ukrainian baroque style. Address: near Pecherska Lavra Service: Monday -Friday                    07:10 and 17:00 Weekends and religious holidays: 08:00 and 19:10  Divine liturgy:  Sundays 10:00
St. Vladimir Cathedral While strolling through the beautiful Schevchenko boulevard one can stop and admire the yellow church in front of metro University. This church is known to be the first Ukrainian Orthodox cathedral (not Russian Orthodox). It was built in 1882 by Rudolf Berngardt. Before that, in 1852 people started in the donation of money for the construction of Cathedral, but the collected sum was not enough and the Russian emperror intefered. Its cconstruction was challenged by lack of funds and engineer incompetence. Ukrainian and Russian artists made a lot of decoration inside the Cathedral, among them were V. Vasnetsov, M. Vrubel, M. Pymonenko and others. Despite all the difficulties the Cathedral was successfully built and has survived some wars and gained Kiev citizens' respect and love. Address: Schevchenko Boulevard 20 service:    Monday -  Friday:              07:10 and 17:00              Weekends and religious holidays: 08:00 and 19:10 Divine liturgy: Sunday 10:00
Cyril Church The namme of this church comes from Cyril, a Kievian Rus monk, who helped Methodius translate scripture into the  Slavic tongue which was the first introduction of script (written language) in Kiev Rus. The church was buil in the middle of the IX century in place called Dorogozhychi not far from Babyn Yar. The construction was initiated by Vsevolod and finished by his widow Maria. During its existence the church was in desolation for many years. In XVIII century it finally assumed its modern aspect in typical baroque style. Olena Teliga Street 42
Central Kiev Synagogue. Kiev Synagogue has turned into a symbol of struggle of Jude people for their rights and freedoms. It was built in 1898 by George Sleifer. Famous Ukrainian jude Lazar Brodsky asked the Russian government permission to build teh Synagogue and it was agreed. Unfortunately with the arrival of Soviets Synagogue was closed and turned into the dining hall of electricians. During its existence different people occupied Synagogue. Only in 1992 according to the President's Act it was returned to the Jude Community. Tel: 235 9082 Shota Rustaveli Street 13

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IMF Eases Ukraine Loan Conditions

IMF Eases Ukraine Loan Conditions

KIEV, Ukraine -- The International Monetary Fund signaled Friday that Ukraine was making progress toward receiving a second crucial installment of a $16.4 billion emergency loan after the aid program was frozen earlier this month.


The IMF said it was ready to reconsider its loan requirements and allow Ukraine to run a bigger budget deficit after the financial crisis grew worse.

The IMF had previously insisted that Ukraine trim the 2009 deficit from 3 percent to 1 percent of the GDP. But Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, the head of the IMF mission to Ukraine, said Friday that a balanced budget was impossible given the economy would contract by 6 percent or more this year and said the country could run a deficit as long it secures external funding.

"A balanced budget given a sharp decline in revenues does not seem feasible at this point in time," Pazarbasioglu told reporters in a conference call. "We are fully supportive of the authorities' efforts to raise additional funding from multilateral and bilateral creditors."

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is reluctant to cut social spending and upset voters ahead of elections this year, has turned to G-7 countries and Russia to help close the budget gap.

The IMF aid is critical to Ukraine, exposed as one of the most vulnerable to the global financial crisis.

Industrial output has slumped by over one-third and Ukraine's currency has lost nearly half of its value against the dollar. The hryvna continued falling Friday, closing at 8.7 to the dollar Friday, down 46 percent from 4.9 in September.

The crisis has been exacerbated by constant feuds among Ukraine's political leaders.

On Friday, however, Tymoshenko, President Viktor Yushchenko, and parliament speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn pledged they would work together to come up with anti-crisis measures and policy changes in the coming days and present them to the IMF.

Pazarbasioglu praised the effort. "The authorities are putting together their own anti-crisis package and measures and that is very encouraging," she told reporters.

Source: AP

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Michelle Kwan To Visit Ukraine

WASHINGTON, DC -- American Public Diplomacy Envoy Michelle Kwan will travel to Ukraine on February 28th where she will visit Kiev, Yalta, Sevastopol, Bakhchisarai and Odessa.

Figure skater Michelle Kwan
This eight-day trip marks the figure skating champion’s fourth tour as an American Public Diplomacy Envoy for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

As a Public Diplomacy Envoy, Ms. Kwan promotes cross-cultural dialogue with international youth and increases understanding of America by sharing her story and life experiences.

Kwan’s activities during her trip will include participating in a roundtable discussion with university students, visiting high schools, conducting skating clinics and meeting with alumni of other Department of State exchange programs.

Source: US State Department

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