To mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, the bell of the Church of the Tithes—one of the oldest known bells in Ukraine—has been recreated. Modern technologies made it possible to reconstruct its original form and reproduce a sound that Kyiv residents last heard nearly 800 years ago.
The project was implemented 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. Farmak and Kyivstar joined the initiative as partners.
The Church of the Tithes was founded in the late 10th century by Prince Volodymyr the Great and became the first stone church of Kyivan Rus. Its bells called Kyiv residents to worship and announced holidays, dangers, and major events. In 1240, during the Mongol invasion, the church was destroyed and the bell was lost.
Nearly seven centuries later, in 1937, Ukrainian archaeologist Teodosii Movchanivskyi discovered a fragment of the bell during excavations. About 60% of its surface has survived to the present day, although the clapper and mounting elements are missing.
How the Bell’s Sound Was Recreated
The reconstruction began with the creation of a 3D model of the surviving museum fragment. Specialists analysed the chemical composition of the bronze and reconstructed the missing sections based on the geometry of the preserved fragment and comparable historical artefacts.
Using computer modelling, engineers calculated how the metal would behave when struck and how sound vibrations would propagate through it. Acoustic synthesis made it possible to hear what the reconstructed bell would sound like even before it was cast.
Historians, archaeologists, engineers, acoustics specialists, and master bell founders from Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal contributed to the reconstruction.
The final stage was casting at Royal Eijsbouts in the Netherlands, one of the world’s leading bell foundries. The result was an accurate replica of the Church of the Tithes bell, weighing 87.5 kg and made from an alloy formulated to match the medieval original as closely as possible.
Returning a Part of Ukraine’s History to Ukrainians
For Farmak, participation in the project reflects a broader understanding of Ukraine’s recovery. The country is rebuilding hospitals, schools, kindergartens, homes, pharmacies, manufacturing facilities, energy systems, and infrastructure. At the same time, work continues to restore and preserve Ukrainian history and cultural heritage—what has been shaped over centuries and connects generations.
“Last year, Farmak celebrated its 100th anniversary. Over the course of that century, the company has become part of Ukraine’s history, which is why we place particular value on what is created and passed down from generation to generation. The bell of the Church of the Tithes bears witness to a thousand years of Ukrainian statehood. Previous generations discovered and preserved its surviving fragment. Our generation now has the opportunity to restore its form and sound and bring this part of our history back into contemporary life. It is important that future generations know this history, build upon it, and preserve this connection,” said Volodymyr Kostiuk, CEO of Farmak.
As part of the project, Farmak also created 20 miniature replicas of the Church of the Tithes bell, which will be presented to Ukrainian schools.
“We want this story to resonate with children as well. We hope the miniatures will become part of First Bell celebrations and an opportunity to talk with students about Kyiv a thousand years ago and the continuity of Ukrainian history,” Volodymyr Kostiuk added.
To receive a miniature bell, schools need to complete the registration form via the registration link by 26 August inclusive. On 27 August, 20 recipient schools will be selected through an automated random draw.
The recreated bell was heard publicly for the first time by guests of the National Prayer Breakfast of Ukraine on 23 August. Until 4 October, the bell will be on display at the That Day exhibition at Kyiv Central Railway Station. After the exhibition, it will be installed near the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, close to the foundations of the Church of the Tithes.
For nearly 800 years, the bell was silent. Now its sound can once again be heard in Kyiv—almost exactly where it rang in the days of Kyivan Rus. Its reconstructed form and sound bring back into the present a part of Ukraine’s history that has survived through the centuries.
