Secrets of Old Podil: Volodymyr Nakonechnyi Revealed What the Legendary Intercession Church Surprises With and What Mysteries It Hides

Among the most distinctive landmarks of the district, the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary holds a special place. This temple has seen so much that its walls could tell more than one adventure tale.

For centuries, historical tumultuous events have intertwined with urban legends, creating that unique atmosphere of old Kyiv that is impossible to confuse with anything else.

Trading prayers and mysterious underground passages

Many stories are associated with the Church of the Intercession, which Kyiv residents recount from generation to generation. One of the oldest legends dates back to the times of Kyivan Rus. According to the tale, local merchants would come here before embarking on distant trading journeys. They prayed before icons, asking Higher powers for a safe journey and a successful return home.

However, the most controversy and debate still surrounds the story of the underground tunnels. Among locals there is a persistent rumor that once there was a secret passage beneath the temple that led straight to the Dnipro. By the most popular version, monks used this path to reach the water unnoticed.

Despite the lack of solid documentary evidence for the existence of such a basement, historians do not find it. The story of the secret passage remains an important part of local folklore. It is precisely such mysteries that give the old city its true charm.