Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Kosmach

Kosmach is one of the unique villages in the Carpathians that is a must-see to get a deeper understanding of Hutsul culture. And it is impossible to imagine Kosmach without its wooden churches, especially the ancient Church of Peter and Paul, which rises above the village and attracts people's eyes.

It is known that the current Peter and Paul Church in Kosmach is over a hundred years old, as it was built in 1905. However, there is documentary evidence from 1680 that an older church dedicated to St. Paraskeva Friday once stood on this site.

It is interesting that in the 18th century there were two Friday churches in Kosmach, one ancient and the other built in 1718. Unfortunately, they have not survived. However, a wooden church of Peter and Paul from the early 20th century has been preserved as a decoration of Kosmach.

In Soviet times, the church community converted to Orthodoxy. It is worth noting that it was in this church that Father Vasyl Romaniuk served from 1965 to 1971, and in 1992 he became Patriarch of the UOC-KP under the name Volodymyr.

The Kosmach wooden church is classified as an architectural monument of national importance. On this basis, there have been many years of disputes between local authorities and the church community over the replacement of the old crosses on the church with new ones.

In general, the church is an example of a traditional Carpathian church - it is crowned with three wooden domes covered with shiny tin in the current Hutsul fashion. If you look at it from above, the shrine is shaped like a cross. On the south side of the church is a small wooden bell tower, also built in 1905. The interior has a wide open gallery above the entrance - the choir.

The interior and paintings of the church are traditional, however, this is complemented by a bright Hutsul color, when for the holidays the Kosmach church is decorated with new embroideries, blankets, carpets, spindles, carved things, so that it seems to turn into a museum of Hutsul folk culture.

It is especially interesting to visit here on major Christian holidays, when people wear traditional Hutsul costumes. In the spring, for example, you can come to the traditional Easter in Kosmach ethnic festival and join the festively dressed people who organize groves on the wide square near the church, singing "perepilonki" and other traditional songs.

On July 12, during the church feast of Peter and Paul, Kosmach residents also celebrate the village day. For example, in 2017, Kosmach celebrates its 605th anniversary.

The Peter and Paul Church is located on a hill in the very center of this huge village, so you can spot it from afar.

You can get to Kosmach by car or bus via Kolomyia or Kosiv. Just don't forget to check the bus schedule, because unfortunately, buses don't run very often.