Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pistyn

Hidden among the dense forests of the Hutsul region in the Ukrainian Carpathians is one of the main architectural monuments of the region, the wooden five-story Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The church dates back to 1600. It is surrounded by the remains of stone walls that were built to protect the shrine from Tatar raids. Near the church there is an 18th-century bell tower, an old cemetery, and a suspension wooden bridge.

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a unique monument of Hutsul architecture, is a popular attraction in the region. The church is located in the village of Pistyn, on the territory of the Hutsulshchyna National Nature Park, near the city of Kosiv.

The church grows between two huge steep gorges on the table-like Pysareva Mountain. From the south, this mountain is protected by the top of the highest local mountain, Klyfi, which is 620 meters high. To the north is the Jordan stream, which is rocky and has many waterfalls.

- "The church is surrounded by water on all sides," says Vasyl Tabakharniuk, an entrepreneur, member of the district council, and local historian. It is a five-story church based on the shape of a cross. The two streams that flow near the church are symbolically named Jordan for Christians, and John the Baptist is considered the patron saint of our church. From generation to generation, Pistyn residents pass on an interesting legend. They say that the church was planned to be built on the opposite bank of the river. But for three nights in a row, an invisible force moved the building materials (a prepared log house) to the other side, where it was eventually built.

To protect the shrine from destruction and ruin, a monastery fortification with ramparts and stone walls was built around the church. Thanks to this, the church has survived to this day. The church is one of the few five-storeyed churches in the Hutsul region that is based on a cross plan with slightly reduced side ramens and an elongated nave.

A characteristic feature is the sloping hipped roof with a low octagonal dome that is barely visible between the roofs of the log cabins. The church is accessed by a wooden bridge suspended high above the water on metal cables.

The Pistyn Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is of great interest to tourists from Ukraine and abroad, especially from Poland. There is an image of St. Barbara in the church, which Polish pilgrims come to pray to.

The ancient iconostasis is impressive. It was moved from another, larger church a long time ago, so it is a bit cramped here.

Not far from the church is the famous Ivan's Well. Its water is considered to be very helpful for sore eyes.