NEWS AND VIEWS: Our financial support can return plundered treasures to Ukraine (10/14/01)

NEWS AND VIEWS

Our financial support can return plundered treasures to Ukraine

by Michael Heretz

Throughout its domination of Ukraine, the Soviet government carried out the systematic destruction of thousands of historical churches and monasteries. Among them the uniquely beautiful 12th century St. Michael's Cathedral of the Golden Domes, the demolition of which was preceded by a careful removal of its most valuable and world-famous Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. These were then "lent" and shipped to Russia where, needless to say, they remain to this day.

Through the effort and financial support of the Ukrainian government, the Kyiv city administration and the generosity of the Ukrainian diaspora, St. Michael's Cathedral was rebuilt - but minus its priceless mosaics and frescoes, which still remain "sheltered" in Russia's museums and art collections. Now the question is: How do we get them back to Kyiv to the cathedral they adorned?

A group of scholars of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Ukraine under the leadership of Dr. Serhiy Kot undertook, at their own expense, a thorough investigation aimed at establishing the following: the current location of St. Michael's art treasures in Russia; the historic circumstances that led to their removal from Ukraine, and, based on articles of international law and precedent concerning the fate of plundered art treasures, the procedure that must be followed to ensure their return to Ukraine.

The results of these investigations served as a basis for negotiations between the art commissions of both Russia and Ukraine. Partial success was achieved: Russia returned four frescoes.

However, an additional 20 or more frescoes and mosaics from St. Michael's Cathedral remain in Russia, and Russian experts are questioning Ukraine's claims to these treasures. They demand further documented proof for each one of the contested items. Unfortunately, the burden of proof and the cost of the documentation falls on the plaintiff - Ukraine. Depending on how successful the Ukrainian scholars are in this endeavor, Ukraine will either get its art treasures back or lose them forever.

The difficulty is further compounded by the fact that there is no money in the current state budget for this crucial project. Ukraine has more important budgetary holes to fill, and there is little likelihood that the necessary funds will be allocated in the near future. Are years of hard work by a group of dedicated scholars doomed to failure for lack of money?

And this is where we come in, dear friends - as we did before, several years ago, when it meant financing the completion of St. Michael's bell tower. St. Michael's plundered art treasures must come back to Ukraine. The psychological effect of such a victory on the Ukrainian people will be profound, but it cannot be achieved without your help. The completion of the investigation and the publication of its results will require $22,000. One of our foundations in the United States is willing to donate $10,000, if we can collect the other $12,000.

St. Andrew's Society is once again calling on your generosity and asking you to send your tax-exempt contributions to: St. Andrew's Society Inc., 1023 Yorkshire Drive, Los Altos, CA 94024. A list of the contributors will be attached to the scholarly report on the fate of St. Michael's art treasures.

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St. Andrew's Ukrainian Orthodox Society was founded in 1990 for the purpose of supporting the spiritual rebirth of the people of Ukraine and for giving support to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose spiritual center is ancient Kyiv. It was incorporated in the state of New York as a not-for profit corporation, and received IRS tax-exemption under section 501(c)(3) in 1992. (EIN 22-3143813).

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