Pray At The City Gates

City of Kiev 11th Century (Podil lower left)

Gates play an important symbolic role in the Bible. They always have important significance. Ancient cities usually had walls and entry gates. When the Tribe of Joseph wanted to capture Bethel, they asked a local man, “show us the entrance to your city” (Judges 1:25). Every city has spiritual entrances. When David wrote Psalm 24, he declared that all the earth belonged to God. He then asked who could come into God’s presence, and the answer was those who had clean hands, pure heart, and were not guilty of idolatry or deceit. He then shouted to the gates of the city to lift up their heads, because the King of Glory was coming through the gates. So, it is appropriate for believers to pray at the “gates” of their cities.

Varangian Prince Kyi and his brothers and sister, Schek, Khoriv, and Lybid, legendary founders of Kiev in 482 AD

The chronicler Nestor says that three brothers and a sister (Kyi, Sheck, Khoriv, and Lybid) settled on the hills overlooking the Dneiper River in 482 AD. The settlement developed on the lower level called Podil and then moved up the hills in sections. Each section was walled and had various gates. By the 13th Century there were more than 14 gates into the city.

The most famous gate was “The Golden Gate” (Zaloti Vorota), built by Prince Yaroslav the Wise shortly after 1036 AD, following a fierce battle with the warring nomadic Pechenegs. Greatly outnumbered, Yaroslav cried out to God for help. The invaders were soundly defeated, and Yaroslav expressed his gratitude by building St. Sophia’s Cathedral on the site where the battle was fought. For more information on the Golden Gate, see Golden Gates of Kyiv and Golden Gates of Kyiv. (Select your language.)

In the Bible, gates symbolize several things.

+ Authority. The elders of the city would sit at the gates and exercise judicial authority.

11th Century Sketch of Kiev’s Golden Gate
with St. Sophia’s Cathedral on right.

+ Justice. This is where the people would come so that the leaders could settle disputes in a just manner.

+ Security. Gates kept evil out. Gates made people feel safe inside.

+ Wisdom. Here the elders would sit and govern the city with wise deliberations and decisions.

+ Commerce and Prosperity. This is where business transactions took place. This is where merchandise arrived and was shipped.

+ Compassion and Mercy. As leaders sat at the gates, people with grievances and problems could bring their concerns to the gates where they would receive compassionate response to their needs.

+ Praise. Just as Jesus was celebrated and praised, and just as King David celebrated the return or the Ark of Covenant at the gate, gates are also to be places of praise today.

Click Here to “Prayer Walk” the Gates.