Beloberizka

Biloberizka is a village in Ukraine, the center of the Biloberizka rural territorial community of the Verkhovyna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region. One of the largest villages in the district is located on the left bank of the Cheremosh River. The territory covers 20 km². The population is over 1600 people. Biloberizka is located at a distance of 33 km from the district center. The history of the village dates back to the XVII century. The village is worth visiting the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1844).

There are the highest peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians, where the White River and the Black River flow. Wild garlic grows along the banks and drops its white flowers into the foamy stream, so the river, which is created by the White and Black reservoirs, was once called Cheremosh. The picturesque Verkhovyna village of Biloberizka, which is located on the banks of the Cheremosh, fits perfectly into the wreath of other villages that bear names derived from certain tree species: Krasnoillia, Iltsi, Yaseniv, Yavoriv, Bereziv...

The intensive settlement of Verkhovyna region dates back to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The massive development of these lands is explained by the influx of fugitives from the lowlands of Prykarpattia who did not want to tolerate feudal exploitation, and therefore went to the mountains and settled there.

At that time, the Carpathian mountains and meadows became a stronghold of the Carpathian opryshky. Under the protection of the vigilantes, the newcomers, without fear of being turned back, began to start their own farms, laying the foundation for new villages. In addition, the free valleys of the White and Black Cheremosh had good pastures for cattle breeding.

Thus, natural conditions and social oppression led to the emergence of new villages, including Biloberizka. Thus, Biloberizka was founded in 1669.

The legend of Biloberizka

It is said that in ancient times, an ancient wise and kind man lived in the mountains near the stormy Cheremosh. He had two daughters, Rada and Zrada. Rada, who was even more intelligent than her father, like him, always did only good to people - advising them on how to do this or that better, helping them out of trouble. Betrayal, on the other hand, was insidious, secretly doing evil.

Rumors about the beauty and wisdom of the Council spread through the near and far neighborhoods, until they reached the king of Hungary. He decided to take her as his wife at any cost. He sent his servants to bring Rada to Hungary. When the Hungarians refused, they persuaded Zrada to help them get her sister. She willingly agreed to do so. She lured Rada into a trap, promising that she would show her something very interesting from a high cliff. When Rada saw the relentless and powerful strangers who wanted to capture her, she threw herself off the cliff onto the sharp stones below and fell to her death, choosing death over infamy.

Afraid of her father's anger, Zrada changed her appearance and went into hiding, and still wanders among people. And the unfortunate father buried his beloved Rada near the Cheremosh River, abundantly watering her grave with tears. And a white birch tree grew on that grave, attracting attention from afar with its beauty and unusual for a tree bark, symbolizing the girl's purity and chastity. People often came here, and later began to settle here, near the white birch. And in memory of the beautiful girl, this village was named Biloberizka.

On the high mountains that surround Biloberizka from all sides, along with many other tree species, there are indeed many birches. There are even whole birch groves. Obviously, one of the local tracts, which was densely covered with birch trees, was once called "white birches," which was formed into one word - Biloberizka.

And old-timers say that on the site of the village there were forests with a significant predominance of birches, which were cut down by the first settlers and used for housing construction.

Mountain Search and Rescue Service, Verkhovyna village, +38 (03432) 2-19-41, +38 (067) 342-04-96.