Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Petrashi

Petrashi is a very picturesque village in the Bukovyna Hutsul region. You will definitely be attracted by the beautiful slopes of the Carpathian Mountains around you, and it will be interesting to visit the ancient wooden church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the village, made in the style typical of the mountainous part of Bukovyna.

The church was built in 1863. To this day, it has managed to preserve its original shape. During its functioning, the church has undergone several restorations, including replacing the shingle roof with tin and covering the walls with decorative wood.

This church differs significantly from the sacred buildings in the surrounding villages. The church in Petrashy is in the Hutsul style, with a three-story, one-roofed building with a steep gable roof. However, there are large cupolas over the Babynets and the altar, which make the church look like a three-story building. Only the shape of the dome resembles the churches in Roztoky or Ust-Putyla - it is exactly the same. A small chancel with a cross is attached to the pews. The second tier has large windows to illuminate the church. The roofs, dome, and wide porch are covered with matte tin, the second tier with natural-colored hewn wood, and the lower tier with an open log house painted with red-brown paint. The boardwalk is painted blue. The church rests on a low stone foundation. The size of the church is typical, medium.

In the far right corner of the church grounds is a two-tiered bell tower, built and renovated in the same style as the church. Note that the church is almost invisible from the road, although it is only a few meters away. It stands on a high terrace of the slope, which is overgrown with large trees that block the view. You should be guided by them if you want to see the church. An interesting thing is an old miniature stone chapel hidden in the line of the church fence on the east side of the church. The temple is located in the central lower part of the village, only a small part of which is located by the road in the Cheremosh valley, and most of the estates are scattered high on the ridges stretching in the east direction.

The church fits very organically into the surrounding landscape of the Carpathian Mountains. In summer, the church is simply buried in the surrounding greenery, which adds a pleasant flavor to it.

The church is located by the road in the center of the village. The road to Putyla, the most remote district center of the region and the capital of the Bukovyna Hutsul region, runs through the village. Buses from Chernivtsi to Putyla regularly pass through the village. The most convenient way to travel by car is to get to Vyzhnytsia, from where you can take the T-2601 road to the village of Petrashi. The distance to the regional center is 90 kilometers.

Opening hours: The church is open only during Sunday and holiday services.