Peter and Paul Church (Sheptytsky Museum), Yaremche

While vacationing in Yaremche, it will be interesting to visit the modern wooden church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which exists at the St. Andrew's Monastery, framed by picturesque thickets of spruce and beech trees. The church is made in the classical Hutsul spirit, and there is also a museum of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky of the Greek Catholic Church.

The Church of the Missionary Congregation of St. Andrew was the idea of a well-known Greek Catholic missionary, collector, and priest, Yaroslav Svyshchuk. He also searched for sponsors for the construction and personally painted the Church of Peter and Paul.

The shrine was built in 2000 on the banks of the Kamianka River, in the village of Dora, in an area called Tovshyi Dil. The church corresponds to the architectural style of the entire St. Andrew's monastery ensemble. It has four wooden tiers and is covered with silver tin.

The iconostasis was skillfully carved by the Ivano-Frankivsk craftsman Ihor Fabuliak, and the icons were painted by Yaroslav Svyshchuk. In addition to the images painted by contemporary masters, there are icons of the Virgin Mary of Chornobyl and a portrait of Metropolitan Andrey.

The ark of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul was made by Kolomyia artist Ivan Mosin, modeled after a shrine from an ancient Hutsul church in the village of Zelene.

The Andrey Sheptytsky Museum is located on the lower level of the church. It showcases talented artworks from the Svyshchuk collection: images, portraits, scenes, sculptures, mosaics by the most famous emigrant masters, and, of course, the works of the owner of these valuables. The walls of the building are also decorated with the painting "The Good Shepherd" by Juvenal Mokrytskyi, a Studite hieromonk who painted the iconostasis of Hagia Sophia in Rome.

By the way, Metropolitan Andrey is considered one of the most significant figures in the history of Ukraine in the 20th century, because he did a lot for his people in difficult times, took care of education, culture, and art.

In Yaremche, next to the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, there is a collection of sculptures called the City of Martyrs. It features a symbolic tomb, a memorial cross, and monuments to people who suffered for their faith.

According to a preliminary plan, sculptor Volodymyr Dovbeniuk is working on making about 30 sculptural portraits of saints and martyrs. This will create a real open-air museum.

The Sheptytsky Church and Museum are located in the suburb of Yaremche, on Kamianka Street. Unfortunately, there are no direct buses to the monastery complex, but you can drive to the suburb of Dora and walk for 20-30 minutes to see the museum's interesting collections. Or use your own transportation.

Opening hours: Please note that to visit the museum, it is best to arrange a visit in advance, as the museum does not have a regular schedule.