The Church of the Nativity of Christ on Poshtova Ploshcha is one of the most iconic landmarks of Kyiv, combining spiritual history with national memory. The first stone building on this site was constructed in 1810–1814 according to the design of the prominent architect of the classical era Andrii Melenskyi. The church was distinguished by its harmonious proportions and a portico with four columns, becoming an ornament of Podil.
A special place in the history of Ukraine was secured in May 1861: it was here that the coffin with the body of Taras Shevchenko was placed during its reburial from Saint Petersburg to Kaniv. Since then, Kyiv residents began to call the church “Shevchenko’s Church.”
A tragic stage in the history of the monument came in 1935, when Soviet authorities completely destroyed the building in order to expand the square. The revival of the church took place only during the years of Ukraine’s independence. In 2002–2003, it was rebuilt in its original classical form thanks to the efforts of architect-restorer Yurii Losytskyi. During the reconstruction, specialists relied on preserved original drawings by Melenskyi and archival photographs, which made it possible to accurately recreate the architectural appearance of the shrine.
Today, the restored Church of the Nativity of Christ once again serves as a spiritual center and a reminder of the continuity of generations and the honoring of the memory of the Kobzar.