Sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bilshivtsi

Just a few kilometers from the highway connecting Lviv with Ivano-Frankivsk is the village of Bilshivtsi, and in it is a pearl of late Baroque style, the Church of the Annunciation. The building is so valuable in the historical and architectural sense that it was included in the monuments of the Ancient Halych National Reserve. The Church of the Annunciation is surrounded by the buildings of the Carmelite monastery complex. This place was once one of the centers of scientific, cultural, and religious life in the region. The monastery complex in Bilshivtsi is one of the best preserved, and after a recent reconstruction it is even more attractive to pilgrims as a spiritual center and to tourists as an interesting architectural monument.

TheCarmelites are representatives of the Catholic monastic order. Its full Latin name is Ordo fratrum Beatae Virginis Mariae de monte Carmel, i.e. the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. The order is believed to be under the special protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Catholic church building in Galicia was very common during the period when this region of Ukraine was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Carmelite monastery complex appeared in the local center in 1624, after the crown hetman Martyn Kazanowski invited the Carmelite monks to Bilshivtsi.

Due to frequent hostile attacks by Turks and Tatars, and the national liberation war of 1648-1654, the monastery suffered significant damage. Each time it was restored. In the 19th century, the Church of the Annunciation in Bilshivtsi and the monastery complex of the Barefoot Carmelites were one of the largest spiritual centers in Galicia. The largest archive of the region was kept here. The monastery had a shelter for the poor and a school.

Both the Church of the Annunciation and the monastery suffered significant losses during the First World War, as the front line passed through Bilshivtsi. After the war, the building was restored, and with the advent of Soviet rule, the activities of such institutions were banned. The church was used as a granary, and later as a collection point for glass containers. The cell buildings were dismantled, and at the end of the 20th century, the valuable architectural complex turned into an unnecessary object.

The Church of the Annunciation is a basilica with three naves, oriented to the west. Unfortunately, the name of the architect who designed the building has not been preserved. The building is dominated by the eastern plastic facade, which is crowned with Ionic capitals. The temple has two tiers and is built of brick on a stone foundation. There are two towers on the sides without finials. This type of sacred building, borrowed from northern Italy, became characteristic of many European buildings of the time. The entrance to the interior of the church is through an open narthex with a balcony above it.

The pediment with a loggia has decorative trim typical of the Baroque style. The niche in front of the loggia once housed a fresco composition "Annunciation". On the south side of the church were monastic cells, which formed a quadrangle with a rectangular courtyard inside. The southern and eastern buildings of the cells have not been preserved, they were dismantled, but restored during the last reconstruction. The facades of the western building, which survived, have no special decoration, but experts believe that the western facade of the building is the most consistent with the spirit of the Baroque style.

The main and side altars were created in the second half of the 18th century, before the crowning of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God in the church. The main altar is the most spectacular part of the interior. There are three chapels along the south and north walls. The Church of the Annunciation also had fresco paintings, some of which have survived to this day.

Since the monastery complex of the Barefoot Carmelites in Bilshivtsi is a landmark of late Baroque architecture, the general directorate of the Ancient Halych Conservation Area, together with specialists, developed a series of restoration programs and began implementing them in the early 21st century. Soon, colleagues from Poland joined the work. There, the church was included in the program for the restoration of architectural monuments beyond the borders of the state. The project provides for the participation of highly qualified restoration specialists and financial assistance.

As a result of the joint activities of the General Directorate of the Reserve, the Ministry of Culture of Poland, and Franciscan monks, the Church of the Annunciation was restored, the interior and partially the frescoes were restored, the western building of the cells was also repaired, and the lost buildings (south and east) were rebuilt. The main staircase and the eastern wall with the entrance arched gate were also recreated.

In 2005, an agreement was signed between the monastery and the Ancient Halych National Reserve to ensure the protection of the monument, and the shrine was returned to its original function. Pilgrimages are held to the Carmelite monastery complex in Bilshivtsi, and a retreat house is open here. Guided tours are available for pilgrims and tourists in Ukrainian, Polish, and Spanish.

Bilshivtsi is located next to the H09 highway. If you are traveling by car from Burshtyn, turn left 6 kilometers before the town of Halych (there is a sign for Bilshivtsi). The distance from the turn off the highway to the church is about 4 kilometers. You can also get to Bilshivtsi by buses going to (through) Halych (for example, "Lviv (Burshtyn, Rohatyn) - Halych", "Lviv - Ivano-Frankivsk"), then walk from the highway or take a local minibus.