A large-scale project to reduce humidity in the national monument lasted 3 years and was completed in the fall of 2023 with the complete drying of the buildings of St. Sophia of Kyiv, which is under threat.
The initiative was implemented with the help of philanthropists without involving government resources.
At the end of the summer of 2020, the pharmaceutical company InterChem, together with its partners, implemented a charity project to dry the walls and foundation of St. Sophia Cathedral and nearby buildings from excess moisture using the patented Swiss BioDry technology.
Moisture has threatened the ancient landscapes of Sophia of the Kiev National Reserve, but the non-invasive equipment installed by the specialists of BioDry Ukraine should return the moisture from the walls back to the ground without the slightest damage to the historic building.
Remind you that Ukrainian medieval masterpieces are under threat – a group of unique frescoes and mosaics, ancient graffiti and authentic masonry of the cathedral. The initiative to save them is called #SophiaHelp.
According to expert forecasts, humidity should return to normal levels within 3 years, but the drying process is annually ahead of expectations. In the first year after the installation of the devices, measurements showed that the process moved faster than planned and the walls were not damaged.
#SophiaHelp: Interchem and Anatoly Reder at the project presentation
On average, in 2021, the dehumidification rate for all buildings and positions is approximately 30%. The negative dynamics were not only stopped, but also completely reversed: specialists’ forecasts for complete drying to normal levels dropped from 3 to 2 years. In subsequent years, the drainage rate is 25%-45% per year.
Finally, in the fall of 2023, the results of the final measurements became known: the weight humidity indicator for the cathedral and nearby buildings was reduced by almost half – from 7.08 to the norm of 3.7.
According to expert opinion, St. Sophia Cathedral was completely drained to the normal level without any damage to the walls. The material is stabilized at the molecular level, and further degradation is completely stopped.
According to InterChem CEO Anatoly Reder, cultural national symbols gain special weight during wartime:
“We cannot stand aside when the thousand-year-old monument of spirituality and culture of the country is under threat. It is believed that Our Lady of Oranta Sophia – the central mosaic of the cathedral – is always the protector of Kyiv, more reliable than on high walls.
It is not for nothing that it is called the “Unbreakable Wall”: the fact that it reached us a thousand years later in its original form is a real miracle. Therefore, when the cathedral was faced with the threat of excessive moisture, we did not hesitate for a moment. After all, there is one belief: as long as Sofia stands, and Oranta here, Kyiv and Ukraine stand.”
In continuation of the project, the pharmaceutical manufacturer InterChem provided a unique 3D projector with a hologram of the reconstructed face of Yaroslav the Wise, who built the cathedral, in Sophia of the Kiev National Nature Reserve.
The device shows a three-dimensional and more accurate model of the head of the prince in his youth, which is noticeably different from the false image of Yaroslav created during the Soviet era. Unique equipment from Denmark is installed in St. Sophia Cathedral itself near the princely sarcophagus and available to all visitors.
Reference:
InterChem is a Ukrainian pharmaceutical company, known for the drugs “Amiksin”, “Amicitron”, “Gidazepam” and others. Founded in 1992 on the basis of the Physicochemical Institute named. Bogatsky NAS of Ukraine. It is among the TOP 10 leading domestic drug manufacturers, developing original and import-substituting drugs. Main activities: production of medicines in accordance with European GMP, synthesis of pharmaceutical substances, scientific research.
BioDry Ukraine is the official Ukrainian supplier of Swiss technology for natural drying of buildings, operating in 27 countries around the world. The company implements systems for safe removal of excess moisture in accordance with international standards. The main activity is non-invasive drainage of ancient architectural monuments around the planet. By 2023, there will be around 5,000 devices in operation worldwide.
Source: korrespondent
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.