Centennial of Big Bell Tower’s Clock

A century ago a new clock was installed on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Big Bell Tower, the fourth since it was constructed. The today’s Big Bell Tower, which is 96.5 meters high, was erected in 1731-1744. It was designed by architect Johann Shoedel and constructed by Kyiv masters Kovnir, Rubashevsky, Horokh, et al. It represents a four-tiered tower made in a classic style, decorated with Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns. The first tier walls are eight meters thick; the tower is capped with a gilded cupola that can be seen from Kyiv far vicinities.

Immediately after construction was completed, Lavra’s dzyharmister (clockmaker) Pavlo Cherniavsky installed a striking clock in its fourth tier, which served for fourteen years. Its successor, made by Berdychiv-based Adam Levynsky, was replaced after thirty years. The new clock was made in 1788 at Ivan “The Big” Kulibin’s workshop in Tula Armor Settlement; it duly functioned for almost 115 years.

In 1903 the present tower clock was mounted at the same fourth tier, made by Moscow clockmakers following the model of the Kremlin Chimes. It is wound with a winch once a week.

It is known with certainty that the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra had chimes as early as in the sixteenth century. This was first mentioned in 1584 by Lviv merchant Martyn Hryneveh, who visited Kyiv and was somewhat surprised to see such a “rare thing for this part of the world.” Next century it was referred to by Deacon Paul of Aleppo who accompanied the Patriarch of Antioch on his visit to Russia.

The left photo presents Ihor Fedoriachenko, Head of the Bell Tower section of the Kyiv Pechersk National Preserve, which is under the aegis of UNESCO, explaining the work of the clock’s huge mechanism.