Basilian Monastery of St. Nicholas, Male Berezne

The monastery is located in the village of Malyi Bereznyi, on the slope of Mount Dilok, near the Uzh River. The monastery was founded in the Middle Ages, when a busy road passed through the territory of Rus. The road was also often used by monks who went "to Uhry" to get liturgical wine. 1752 - a church and a chapel were built on the hill, and in 1760 Herman Toriskyi added one wing of the monastery. In 1764, the church was decorated with an iconostasis by a craftsman from Przyszew. There is a legend that they wanted to build outbuildings on the site of the present monastery. Since there was a village cemetery there, during the digging they found the body of a girl "buried above human memory," after which the homonai abandoned the idea and agreed to build a chapel.

STUDIES

Since 1928 , the monastery has had gymnasium and philosophy studios (with an emphasis on learning languages and other subjects). After 1932, when the Czechoslovakian authorities forbade Ukrainians from Zakarpattia to study in Galicia, 11 students studied in Malyi Bereznyi (5 - gymnasium, 6 - philosophy). The studies lasted for 2 years, and when Hungary captured the southern part of Transcarpathia in the fall of 1938, theological studies were moved to Malyi Bereznyi. The greatest damage was caused by the Hungarian occupation, when Basilians were forced to leave and the locals were imprisoned. The leadership of the monasteries was transferred to the Basilians of Magyar.

On October 19, 1940, the Apostolic See in Rome ordered that the monasteries in Boroniava, Malyi Berenyi, and Mukachevo be assigned to the Basilians. On November 25, it united all the monasteries of the occupied region into one "Province." It was headed by a Hungarian, Leonty Dolhoy. Many Ukrainians were arrested because of their resistance.

In 1941, the hegumen of Malobereznya, Father Joseph Zavadiak, suffered the same fate . Subsequently, Fr. Sabov was put in his place. Bishop Oleksandr Stoyka interceded for the prisoners. In 1943 , Abbot A. Mondyk was appointed head of the Main Order of Fathers. In Malyi Bereznyi, Father Mykola Shepa became the hegumen.

SOVIET RULE
In1944 Transcarpathia was occupied by troops, and in 1947 all monasteries were forcibly liquidated. The monks were imprisoned for 10 years. Also, some Ukrainian monks went abroad, while others went underground. In 1948, the monastery was transferred to Uzhhorod University, and the church became a gymnasium. In 1958, a boarding school for mentally retarded children was opened. In 1973, a boarding school building was erected near the monastery.

REVIVAL

The question of revival arose in 1989. In 1991, the community was registered, and Fr. In 1993, Fr . Pavlo Raychynets was appointed hegumen in Malyi Bereznyi. On July 24, 1994, the monks were returned the northern wing, and the following year the monastery itself was registered. In 1995 , a novitiate was opened, and Fr. Joseph Volosyansky created the iconostasis for the church. Joseph's paintings were lost, and the church was re-painted by the artist M. Pryimych.

In1988, the abbot of the monastery and the hieromonks took over the miraculous icon of the Mother of God from the faithful who had kept it during the Soviet persecution. The shrine was moved to Malyi Bereznyi where it remained until 2009. Then the icon was moved to the Mukachevo Monastery, and a copy of it remains in Malyi Bereznyi. On February 2-4, the monastery hosted a chapter of the restored Province of St. Nicholas, where local Father Pavlo Raychynets was elected hegumen. On the last Sunday of each month, religious processions are held on Chernecha Hill. The largest pilgrimage took place on the feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. At the moment, the monastery in Malyi Bereznyi is one of the largest centers of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese in the entire Transcarpathian region.

Comments:
A cozy and very beautiful place on a hill with a small park and a well. We recommend tourists to visit this place.
The transfer is easy. You can get there by local bus or by your own transport.