On September 18, 2024, the large-scale international exhibition "Kyivan Rus. Origins" opened at the National Museum of Lithuania in Vilnius. This exhibition showcases the most outstanding and valuable artifacts from nearly twenty museums and institutions from Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, and Norway.

The exhibition is held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda.

The opening ceremony was attended by Jolanta Karpavičienė, Cultural Advisor to the President of Lithuania; Simonas Kairys, Minister of Culture of Lithuania; Rūta Kačkutė, General Director of the National Museum of Lithuania; Fedir Androshchuk, General Director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine; Roman Chmelik, Director of the Lviv Historical Museum; Edmundas Jakilaitis, Lithuanian journalist and founder of the charity organization "Stiprūs kartu" in support of Ukraine; Petro Beshta, Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania; and representatives from Ukrainian and Lithuanian museums, the diplomatic corps accredited in Lithuania, Lithuanian public figures, and the Ukrainian community in Lithuania.

The exhibition features over 300 exhibits from Ukrainian museums alone, including the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Lviv Historical Museum, and the Zaporizhzhia Regional Museum, with a total value exceeding 10 million euros.

Visitors can explore archaeological finds, weapons, household items, crafts and trade tools, coins in circulation at the time, and exhibits related to the Christianization of Kyivan Rus. The exhibition also highlights the region's connections with Scandinavia, Viking rule, and the lands of the present-day Baltic countries. Among the gems of Ukrainian cultural heritage are coins with the trident emblem and a brick from the Church of the Tithes bearing the trident of Prince Volodymyr, which offer insight into the origins of Ukrainian identity and clarify the question of who founded the Kyivan Rus state and continued its traditions after its fall.

This is a unique opportunity for all who wish to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of ancient Kyivan Rus and connect with its history and culture. We invite everyone to visit the exhibition "Kyivan Rus. Origins" and embark on this journey through time.

The exhibition runs until March 30, 2025. Address: T. Kosciuškos g. 3. https://lnm.lt/.../ekskursija-po-paroda-kijevo-rusia.../

Photos: P. Peleckis/BNS, Embassy of Ukraine in Lithuania