Discover Ukraine. Mystical Podilia, p.#1

Greetings from Ukraine, folks!

Today I start a small series about an amazing part of Ukraine - Podilia. It is a historical area, that includes several administrative regions of Ukraine and a part of Moldova.

I visited it a few times, it was in spring - a wonderful season to start a new travel year. It is not easy to get to because of the conditions of roads, but when you managed it, you'd be definitely fascinated. Here is how it looks at the map (from Wiki):

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Archeology shows that people lived there from the Paleolithic. Thus, a good place. What is interesting there - everything! But this time there were defensive structures on both sides of Zbruch, ancient settlements, legends, cemeteries, Podilski Tovtry (they also have a magical name Medobory, from take honey), a variety of flowers, herbs, butterflies, sounds, smells - all that should be in May.

Pokrov Church in the village of Sutkivtsi

This beauty is the defense Pokrov Church in the village of Sutkivtsi. You can visit her as often as you wish - and not get bored. Because something is happening here all the time.

One eminent wonder-architects have completed the restoration - the look has changed, unpleasant metamorphoses started - condensate, ruin processes. By the way, I note that the original roof was completely different from what it was made. It is defensive church, a place, where local people were hidden from attacks of enemies and could fight back. And after restoration, the holes for muskets, those under the roof, are located very close to each other and just above the floor. It is impossible to shoot from there. Despite of its cute look, it has nothing to do with its original appearance.

The church has a very interesting shape, so almost centrally symmetrical - it has the appearance of a uniform cross with rounded corners at the four endings. The temple has 2 tiers. In the center of the temple there is a large pillar on which four vaults rest, one at each end of the cross plan.

This time we got a good news - the preacher and the community did some repairs after the restorers.

Husiatyn

Husiatyn is a small city, the administrative center of the district, and is located on both banks of the Zbruch River.

The first written mention of the settlement is 1431. Until 1539 Husiatyn, located on both sides of the Zbruch River, was a royal city. In 1559 King Sigismund II Augustus granted the Magdeburg Law - the status of the city and the permission to hold three trade fairs a year.

Until the 18th century it was under the control of the Commonwealth, then belonged to the Ottoman Empire. From the 18th century - the river divides it not just into two parts, but into two different empires. In 1772 the western part of Husiatyn was under the authority of the Holy Roman Empire; and the eastern Husiatyn was annexed to the Russian Empire.

Even now its parts belong to defferent administrative districts. This pompous colonnade was constructed on USSR side to show to Ukrainians oppressed by Poland how good is life on the other side… But in fact, the Soviet part of Husiatyn remained a small village, and in the other part of it life and trade broke out.

The city had to be defended. At that time, most of the city was Jewish, but there were still Catholics and Orthodox. Each confession contributed to the defense of the city. that is, all sacred buildings were defensive.

This building, like many other synagogues, did not come across a happy luck. With each visit, her condition is worse.

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Church of St. Anthony and Bernardine Monastery.

In 1610, the general of the Podillia lands Kalynovsky handed Bernardine a small wooden monastery and church. He was rebuilt from a stone. The works were directed by Marcin Kalynovsky, the future hetman crown. The church was often destroyed, the monks then left him, escaping from the destroyers, then returned and tried to reproduce.

Now the church's restoration is at a steady pace.

The third defensive structure of Husiatyn is St. Onufri Church - with its restored appearance completely kill the desire to photograph it. I'll just say it. After the capture of the Turks it was transformed into a mosque, rebuilt the defensive tower to the minaret, and now it is again a Christian Church.

Well, this is my first time making post by means of travelfeed.io, and I'd like to do it using drafts but didn't find where to create it, so I think it is enough for today. Next time it will be less of architecture and more of nature :) Stay tuned!

Regards,
@zirochka