Church of St. John the Baptist, Yaremche

In the vicinity of the city of Yaremche is the Church of St. John the Merciful, built back in 1663, in the village of Yamna, and is an unsurpassed example of early Hutsul sacred architecture. The name of the church was named after the saint, known for his tolerance and meekness towards others. By the way, this patron saint is in perfect harmony with the wooden beams from which the church was built, just as granite and St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome or Panteleon marble and the Parthenon are combined, from which they were actually built.

The construction of the church was carried out in accordance with the best traditions of Hutsul folk architecture, so the church is one of the most beautiful examples of this school. The church is built of wooden beams and has a cruciform layout, which gives it a greater resemblance to another very famous temple - St. Peter's Cathedral.

The temple in Yaremche was built as a single-domed church, with a well-defined main log house, and a tent-like head and a cross with a bulb proudly towering above it. The church roof is made of modern materials. Not far from the church is the bell tower, which has retained its unique architecture since the construction of the church. The wooden bell tower has two tiers, the top of which looks like an arcade gallery.

The interior of the church is decorated with a small iconostasis, which is located in the central log house. There are also a huge number of different handmade emb roideries and old icons in the church, which makes it look like a folk museum.

The Ukrainian church is single-domed, which distinguishes it from the Moscow St. Basil's Church. The latter has eleven domes and, according to a French architect, is like a cake made by a mad confectioner. The Carpathian church has one distinct central log house, above which rises a tent-like chapter topped with a neat bulb with a cross. The only drawback of this church is the modern tin roof that replaced the old one covered with shingles. By the way, the church patiently endured the abuse of restoration, showing the meek character of St. John the Merciful.

Next to the church, hand in hand through the centuries, the bell tower was built and preserved. It is two-tiered and also made of wood. On the second floor, there is an elegant gazebo covered with a tent, which allows the building to be called the melodious Italian word "cam-pa-nel-la". The Church of St. John the Baptist with its Campanella is one of the oldest and most harmonious sacred buildings and monuments in Yaremche. Despite its venerable age, this church is alive.

Arriving on vacation in Yaremche, you can come here for a Sunday service and imagine yourself in 1663, when this temple was the only decoration of Yamna and the most beautiful building within the nearest 100 km. As you can see, a vacation in the Carpathians is not always just about ethno-shopping, wine and water tasting, and comparing menus of different kolybas. Sometimes a trip to the Carpathians can be as spiritual and meaningful as a pilgrimage to one of the Lavras of Ukraine.

Walking around Yaremche, visit the Church of St. John the Merciful, whose special atmosphere gives you peace of mind and allows you to touch the traditions and culture of the inhabitants of the Carpathian region.