CHURCH OF STS. BORYS & HLIB and ANNA YAROSLAVNA CULTURAL CENTER

Senlis, FRANCE

Senlis was the seat of the French monarchy when Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Prince of Kyiv, married his daughter Anna to King Henry I of France in the 11th century. In order to reinforce the historical connection between Ukraine and France, a 300 year old church in Senlis, sitting atop subterranean Roman era vaults, will be repurposed by the Ukrainian Catholic Church for liturgical use as well as for other functions such as symposia, lectures, concerts, exhibits, and banquets. The priority for Phase I will be to build an iconostasis in the nave of the church, to connect upper and lower levels internally, to create a gift shop/café, and to provide basic heating, plumbing and electricity in the spaces. Subsequent phases will include the creation of an Anna Yaroslavna museum in the largest of the subterranean vaults, apartments in the attic, and a possible mezzanine level within the nave.

Video: Jonathan Culp