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The Sofia Cathedral in Kiev is an ancient architectural monument built in the 11th century by Prince Yaroslav the Wise. It has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout history. The cathedral is a combination of different architectural styles, including Ukrainian baroque. It features valuable mosaics and frescoes depicting the life of people in old Rus'. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Text 7. The Sofia Cathedral. St. Sofia's Cathedral in Kiev is an outstanding architectural monument of the first half of the 11th century. The name of the cathedral comes from the Greek word sophia, which means wisdom. Prince Yaroslav the Wise built the Sofia Cathedral in Kiev after the victory over the Pechenegs. The Sofia Cathedral is very old. The Tatars ruined it in the 13th century. It suffered much from wars. It was burnt many times and was reconstructed again. In 1707, St. Sofia's Cathedral was rebuilt and topped with typical pear-shaped cupolas. Nowadays, the building of the cathedral combines constructions of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It consists of several buildings in the style of Ukrainian baroque. The old mosaic decorations in the cathedral are of great value. The artists of the 11th century painted wonderful pictures. There are old frescoes found under the later oil paintings in the cathedral. Those are portraits of the family members of Yaroslav the Wise. His wife, Irina, and three daughters, Anna, Elisaveta and Anastasia, which are very interesting. But the portrait of Yaroslav the Wise on the western wall has not come down to us. Many frescoes show the life of the people of old Rus'. On the walls, we can see hunting scenes, dances, performances of musicians and so on. Nowadays, St. Sofia's Cathedral is an architectural and historical preserve. It is one of the most beautiful temples of Kiev and the major attraction of the capital of Ukraine. In 1990, the Sofia Cathedral was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.