Eight Centuries Later: Reconstructed Bell of Kyiv’s Tithe Church Goes on Public Display
From September 3 to 30, the reconstructed bell of Kyiv’s Tithe Church will be on public display near the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. The bell was recreated by the NGO Ukraine WOW in cooperation with the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. The project brought together researchers from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal, while the bell itself was cast at Royal Eijsbouts, one of the world’s oldest bell foundries, in the Netherlands. The project was carried out without state funding, with support from Kyivstar and Farmak. After September 30, the bell will become part of the museum’s exhibition dedicated to the Tithe Church.
The Tithe Church was founded at the end of the 10th century by Prince Volodymyr the Great. It became the first stone church in the Kyivan Rus. For centuries, its bells called Kyiv residents to worship, while also announcing holidays, dangers, and important events. But in 1240, the church was destroyed during the Mongol invasion, and the bell was lost.
The story continued in 1937, when the prominent Ukrainian archaeologist Theodosius Movchanivskyi discovered a fragment of the bell during an excavation. Only 60% of its surface had survived; the clapper and mounting were missing. From then on, the bell fragment was preserved in the museum collection as a unique artifact.
Julia Solovey
and Yaroslava Gres
“In the spring of 2026, we saw the bell fragment in the collection of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. As we learned more about its history, we realized that we were looking at a true relic — evidence of the continuity of Ukrainian statehood. We decided to recreate the bell as accurately as possible — not only its shape, but also its sound. Specialists from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal brought together their knowledge, technology, and expertise to accomplish this. Now, we can not only see what the bell of the Tithe Church looked like, but also hear what it sounded like. For the first time in hundreds of years. We are deeply grateful to Kyivstar and Farmak, whose support made this reconstruction possible,” said Yaroslava Gres and Julia Solovey, Ukraine WOW Co-Founders.
How the Bell Was Reconstructed
The reconstruction began with a 3D model of the museum fragment. Scanning captured every detail of the original’s surface without risking any damage. Researchers then determined the chemical composition of the bronze using x-ray fluorescence analysis. Based on this data, they created a complete digital model of the bell, reconstructing the missing parts using the geometry of the surviving fragment and historical analogs.
The next stage was computer modeling. Engineers calculated how the metal would behave when struck and modeled the propagation of sound vibrations. Acoustic synthesis made it possible to hear what the reconstructed bell would sound like even before it was cast, allowing the team to test and refine the model.
The project brought together historians, archaeologists, engineers, acousticians, and bell-casting specialists from Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Ukrainian researchers worked with the archaeological find, historical sources, and museum collections. The research team of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine prepared historical materials on the bell’s origins and the circumstances of its discovery. A team from the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, led by Serhii Naida, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics, carried out the digital restoration, computer modeling, and acoustic reconstruction of the bell.
“It is very important that such a unique artifact from our museum’s collection has been recreated through the joint efforts of specialists and partners. From now on, this bell will also have a ceremonial function. Thanks to this project and modern technologies, our ancient heritage can be heard with new power and meaning. Along with it, we are bringing back the names of the researchers who discovered, studied, and preserved this heritage for future generations. Among them is Theodosius Movchanivskyi, who discovered a fragment of the ancient Rus bell in 1937, but was arrested the following year on fabricated charges and executed. Today, his name rings out again together with this bell,” said Olena Zemliana, Director of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
Klaus Hammer, a German bell expert and Scientific Director of the Bell Museum at the Collegiate Church in Herrenberg, also joined the project. He provided the team with historical drawings and advised the researchers on the construction and characteristics of medieval bells.
German bell museums also contributed to the project. Westfälisches Glockenmuseum in Gescher provided research materials on the construction of bell clappers from the 9th–13th centuries, while at GlockenStadtMuseum in Apolda, the project team carried out 3D scanning of bell clappers from the 13th and 14th centuries that have survived to the present day.
An important element of the reconstruction was a fragment of the crown of an ancient Rus bell from Sakhnivka, Cherkasy Oblast, preserved in the collection of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
The final stage was the casting of the bell at Royal Eijsbouts in the Netherlands, one of the world’s leading centers of bell casting. Bells for numerous historic churches across Europe have been cast there, including for the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The reconstruction resulted in an exact replica of the Tithe Church bell. It weighs 87.5 kg, and the composition of its alloy is as close as possible to that of the medieval original.
“Bells are unique instruments because they can preserve their characteristics for centuries. In our case, we worked with a fragment of a 12th–13th-century bell — an exceptionally rare source of historical and scientific information. It allowed us to study the bell’s shape, manufacturing technology and metal, ultimately allowing the recreation of its sound. Today, thanks to 3D scanning, metal analysis, and acoustic research, we can do something that would have been practically impossible just a few years ago: accurately reconstruct the bell’s profile based on a fragment, select an alloy close to the original, and predict its sound. What is especially important to me is that through this work we are bringing back not simply the sound of a bell, but the sound once heard by people in medieval Kyiv. This is the closest possible sound to what has remained silent for almost 800 years. It is a great honor for me to be part of a project that helps preserve Ukrainian culture and heritage for future generations,” said Miguel Carvalho, Project Consultant and Co-Author of The Sound of Bronze, one of the key scientific studies in the field of digital historic bell reconstruction.
The Value of the Project
The project was implemented without state funding, thanks to Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest electronic communications operator, and Farmak, a leading Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturer and a major exporter to more than 60 countries.
As part of the project, Kyivstar and the Homin Choir have created an exclusive ringtone featuring one of Ukraine’s most beloved songs, Nich Yaka Misyachna (What a Moonlit Night). From now on, every Kyivstar subscriber can hear the reconstructed bell of the Tithe Church, combined with the Choir, in their ringtones.
To replace your standard ringtone with this special Homin of the Bell rendition, send a free SMS with the code 350 to 465.
“Kyivstar has been providing connectivity in Ukraine for more than 28 years, so the very idea behind this project — a connection between people, time, and generations — resonated with us. It is important for us to support initiatives that help preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage while also opening it up in new ways. We want as many people in Ukraine as possible to not only see the history of this bell, but also to hear it. That is why the sound created for the project based on the song ‘Nich Yaka Misyachna’ will also be available to Kyivstar subscribers through the Di-Jingl service,” said Oleksandr Komarov, President of Kyivstar.
With the support of Farmak, miniature replicas of the reconstructed bell were created and presented to 20 schools across different regions of Ukraine. The replicas were intended to let the bell’s voice ring out on the first day of the school year, serving as a reminder of the connection between generations and the continuity of Ukraine’s history and culture:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DcykWVtCKJA/
“For more than a century, Farmak has been part of Ukraine’s history. We invest heavily in the development of new medicines, manufacturing, and modern technologies. At the same time, we support projects that help preserve cultural heritage and identity. That is why we supported the recreation of the Tithe Church bell. For us, it is an opportunity to bring part of our history back to life and preserve it for the future. We also created 20 miniature replicas of the bell and gifted them to Ukrainian schools. We are pleased that they became part of the first school bell celebrations and helped introduce students to this important chapter of Ukrainian history” said Volodymyr Kostiuk, CEO of Farmak.
The reconstructed bell can be seen near the National Museum of the History of Ukraine from September 3 through September 30, 2026. A digital screen next to the bell will allow visitors to learn about its history and follow the entire reconstruction process. The installation of the screen was made possible with the support of the NGO, Razom.
Ukraine WOW invites everyone to join free guided tours of historic Kyiv with Yuliia Bevzenko and her team. The tours will begin at the bell. To join a tour, please register via the link: https://forms.gle/YbUyv46XRTpE2n6m7 .
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Tour schedule:
September 4 — 17:00September 5 — 15:30September 6 — 12:00, 15:30
September 11 — 17:00September 13 — 12:00, 15:30
After September 30, the reconstructed bell will become part of the permanent exhibition at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
Project Team
Maryna Strelnyk — Head of the Department of Ancient and Medieval History of Ukraine.
Lesia Didukh — Head of the Medieval History Sector at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
Yuliia Bezkorovaina — Head of the Medieval Archaeology Sector at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
Yurii But — Head of the Scientific Restoration Department at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.
Serhii Naida — Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
Mykyta Naida — PhD, Assistant Professor at the Department of Acoustic and Multimedia Electronic Systems at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.
Co-founders of Ukraine WOW: Yaroslava Gres, Julia Solovey
Project Director, Co-author of the Concept: Oksana Huz
Technical Director, Co-author of the Concept: Mykhailo Vybodovskyi
Management: Daria Lubimova
Communications: Renata Kazanska, Oleksandr Taran, Kateryna Rusanova
Design: Yuliia Kurach, Khrystyna Andrusenko
Texts: Yurii Marchenko
Literary Editing: Olena Konkova, Jabez Sherrington
Production: Artem Skorozinsky
Video: Ted Daamen, Andrii Sydoruk, Iryna Zhodko
General Contractor: Ihor Tverdokhlib
Architects: FORMA Architectural Bureau
Logistics Partner: FTP Logistics Engineering
Royal Eijsbouts Team
The team of Royal Eijsbouts, Netherlands — the world’s largest foundry specializing in tower bells:
Miguel Carvalho (Portugal) — Co-Author of The Sound of Bronze, one of the key scientific studies in the field of digital reconstruction of historic bells; campanologist at Royal Eijsbouts, responsible for the physical, musical, and historical aspects of bells.
Joep van Brussel — Managing Director of Royal Eijsbouts, with 42 years of experience.
Project Consultants
Klaus Hammer (Germany) — PhD, certified bell expert and Scientific Director of the Bell Museum at the Collegiate Church in Herrenberg.
Bohdan Kindratiuk — Director of the Bell Studies Center, Doctor of Art History, Professor at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, author of the monograph Bell-Ringing Culture of Ukraine.
Heorhii Chernenko — Honored Artist of Ukraine, Professor at the National Music Academy of Ukraine and the Luhansk State Academy of Culture and Arts, member of the European Carillon Association, and founder of the Kyiv Bell Ringers ensemble. He is the author of the first carillon projects in the Orthodox world at the bell towers of St Michael’s Monastery, St Sophia’s Cathedral, and other bell towers across Ukraine.
Ukraine Wow