The Chernihiv Regimental Chancellery (the mansion of Yakiv Lyzohub, the building of Hetman Ivan Mazepa) is a monument of civil architecture dated back to the 17th century. It was built in the 1690s on the territory of the Chernihiv dytynets.
The famous Chernihiv colonel, the remarkable commander, and the representative of an ancient Cossack family, Yakiv Lyzohub had the mansion constructed for his family. After colonel’s death, his wife had to sell the house to Hetman Ivan Mazepa due to the difficult financial situation. Later on, Hetman Ivan Mazepa fell into disgrace with Peter the Great, so his mansion was confiscated and became the property of Chernihiv Cossack regiment.
The regimental chancellery was located there since the 18th century. That is why one of its names is the building of Regimental Chancellery. Then the building became the city property and finally – the State Archives.
The first restoration was done in the 10th century. The furnaces were deconstructed and the ornaments were destroyed. However, the original planning traditional for noble Cossack dwelling remained. Wide walls divide the building into two parts – female and male, each of which has two rooms. The Chernihiv Regimental Chancellery is built in the Ukrainian Baroque style. It has two floors (the second one is the attic) and a large basement.
Currently, the holdings of the V. V. Tarnovskyi Chernihiv Regional Historical Museum are housed here.
There is a legend that the house has the deep catacomb where Hetman Ivan Mazepa hid huge barrels full of gold. There he secretly met with his young goddaughter Motria. Motria was the daughter of Vasyl Kochubei – Cossack general pysar (scribe). Motria’s mother cursed her daughter for her sinful affairs with her godfather. Since that time, her restless soul has been wandering around. And yearly, on the 28th of September, Dormition of Mother God, Motria appears at Mazepa’s house and asks to bless her cursed soul with orthodox cross, promising to reveal the mystery of Hetman's treasures.