Church of St. Demetrius, Vyzhnytsia

TheChurch of St. Dmytro of Thessalonica in Vyzhnytsia in the Chernivtsi Oblast is a wooden church located on the western outskirts of the city. The building is not only the main architectural landmark of the city, but also the center of its spiritual life. The Church of St. Dmitry was built in 1883 in the style of folk architecture and is located on the western outskirts of the city, in the village of Rivne. Its location on a rather steep hillside gives the church a diverse silhouette, and as a result, its foundations are of different heights.

The village of Rivnia in Vyzhnytsia is famous for the fact that Nazariy Yaremchuk, a prominent Ukrainian singer of the second half of the 20th century, was born here. The legendary singer was baptized in this church, and the family house now houses a memorial museum run by the artist's sister.

The wooden church is three-story, with rectangular windows, painted blue, and a tin roof. Above the nave is a central octagonal massive dome; in addition to the central dome, there are smaller domes in the altar area and above the narthex. This temple is similar to earlier wooden churches of the Hutsul region in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, but differs from them by the significant removal of the side extensions of the nave and the absence of a covered gallery (opasna). However, many of the elements, including the three domes of a typical shape in a row, resemble neighboring churches in the Chernivtsi region, such as the churches in Ust-Putyla or Vyzhenka.

As of 2015, the interior of the church was completely modernized, except for some elements of the iconostasis, the Tsar's Gate, and the domes. The walls are covered with fresh wood. From the outside, the church looks attractive and well-groomed, as does the church grounds. Four old authentic crosses have been preserved. Near the church there is a modern bell tower made of European timber and a small chapel.

Behind the church there is a path leading to the Hutsulove tract, where Nazariy Yaremchuk liked to rest. In this place, a spring breaks through, which is popularly called "Nazar's Well." Higher up the slope is a small old cemetery, and then the forest begins. There is a beautiful view of the mountains on the opposite side of Cheremosh, but the view of Vyzhnytsia itself is limited by trees and buildings.

St. Dmitry's Church in Vyzhnytsia is a functioning church, belongs to the diocese of the UOC-MP and is an architectural monument of local importance. While in Vyzhnytsia, be sure to visit the sights of the central part of the town: St . Nicholas Church of an extremely interesting shape, the local history museum, the house where Ivan Franko and Lesya Ukrainka stayed...

The Church of St. Dmytro is located in the local cemetery. Vyzhnytsia is a city of district significance in the Chernivtsi region. It is located 70 km west of the regional center. With other cities of the region Vyzhnitsa is connected by bus, as well as tourists can use private vehicles and taxi services.

Vyzhnytsia is a small Carpathian town with a population of only about 5 thousand inhabitants. However, the amazing beauty of the surrounding mountains and forests, the steep Cheremosh, combined with the original architecture of the Austrian times, makes it a real gem of the Carpathian part of Bukovyna. Vyzhnytsia is located at the foot of the Carpathians, on the right bank of the stormy Cheremosh, 70 km from the regional center of Chernivtsi.

The first mention of the town is found in the Moldovan chronicle of 1501. In 1514-1574, the town was ruled by the Turks. Until 1774, Vyzhnytsia was subordinated to the Principality of Moldova, and later to Austria-Hungary. At the end of the eighteenth century, with the beginning of the development of the timber industry, Vyzhnytsia became an important point of trade in wood. After the Cheremosh riverbed was regulated (1790-1812), construction timber and firewood were floated to Chernivtsi, and from there, along a dirt road through the Boyany, to Bessarabia and Podillia.

Vyzhnytsia suffered terrible devastation during the First World War. The town changed hands several times, leaving most of the buildings in ruins and the number of inhabitants down to 500.

In 905, a regional school of carving, turning, and metal ornamentation was organized in Vyzhnytsia. It was attended by 20 children. Its founders and teachers were the famous Hutsul carvers Vasyl Shkribliak, Vasyl Devdiuk, Marko Megedeniuk, and Fedir Hnatiuk. The school's products soon became known far beyond the region.

During 1869-1872, the writer Yurii Fedkovych worked as an inspector of schools in the Vyzhnytsia district. Ukrainian artist, writer, and public figure Kornylo Ustianovych (1839-1903) lived and died in Vyzhnytsia for some time. The famous Polish artist Juliusz Kosak (1824-1899) was born here; the Polish artist Anna Czartoryska spent her childhood and adolescence here.

Ukrainian writers have visited the city: Ivan Franko, Lesya Ukrainka, Vasyl Stefanyk, artist Ivan Trush, and other cultural figures. The city's community always welcomed their favorite artists with hospitality and joy. On 23 July 1901, in honor of Lesia Ukrainka's arrival, a large concert was organized in the largest venue of the time.

Vyzhnytsia is the birthplace of the People's Artist of Ukraine Nazar Yaremchuk, the vocal and instrumental ensemble Smerichka and the folk dance ensemble Smerechyna were born here, and Vasyl Zinkevych and many other famous artists began their careers here.

Tourist attractions of Vyzhnytsia include the wooden St. Dmitry's Church (nineteenth century); St . Nicholas Church (late nineteenth - early twentieth century); St . Peter and Paul Church (nineteenth century); synagogue (eighteenth century, now the Palace of Culture); the old railway station (Austrian times), Vyzhnytsia Town Hall (early twentieth century); Anna Moskva-Golota's house-hotel (Lesya Ukrainka, Ivan Franko, Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi, Olha Kobylianska visited it in their time), Nazariy Yaremchuk's museum-estate, M. Marfiyovych's museum. Marfiyevych, the museum of the V. Shkriblyak College of Applied Arts (its collections contain more than 600 exhibits of diploma and best semester works: women's blouses, men's shirts, napkins, towels, carpets, tablecloths). You can learn about the history of the city and the region by visiting the Vyzhnytsia Folk Museum. Vyzhnytsia is rightfully considered a center of folk crafts (embroidery, carpet making, woodworking, Easter eggs, inlaid products).