Wooden churches of Transcarpathia.

Berehovo District

HETYEN
The Protestant church without tower was constructed of stone in 1793  on the site of the previous wooden church. A separate bell-tower with spire and four turrets features splendid proportions and is considered to be the most refined and graceful among the Protestant bell-towers. Bells were cast in 1783 and this may be the erection year of the bell-tower.

1. Hetyen. Protestnt church, 1793 and bell-tower, 18th century.

MUZHIYEVO
The stone church of late Gothic style was constructed in 15th century and later buttresses were added. The western portal and lancet windows are remarkable Gothic elements. The lower tier of the  separate wooden bell-tower is rather wide, the tent roof is crowned with spire. The bell-tower is considered to be erected in the 18 century.

2. Muzhiyevo. Protestant church, 15th century and bell-tower, 18th century (?).

CHETFALVA
The Protestant Gothic church dates back to the 15th century. The compositions painted in the folk style in 1753 in 60 sections on the wooden ceiling of the church are of significant artistic value. The wooden bell-tower constructed in timber framing technique in 1753 is a masterpiece of folk architecture and the highest bell-tower of Transcarpathia.


3. Chetfalva. Protestant churh, 15th century and bell-tower, 1753.

Velykyj Bereznyj District

BUKOVTSIOVA
This church belongs to the wooden churches of Baroque style, though primarily it was built in Boyko style with three tops with successively receding sloping sections in the roofs. According to the inscription over the door, master Hryhoriy Makarovych reconstructed the church and it obtained the nowadays look. A beautiful iconostasis with icons painted in 1821 adorns the interior.

4. Bukovtsiova. St. Ann church, 17th century, 1791.

KOSTRYNO
The church of Kostryno is one of the outstanding monuments of Ukrainian architecture of Boyko style. It is a masterly completed artistic piece, ideally situated in the splendid scenery. The structure is 15 m long 7 m wide, the tower is 14 m high.
The church was transferred to Kostryno in 1645 (or 1703) from Galician village of Sianky in Turka district. In 1761 the church was repaired and partially reconstructed.

5. Kostryno. Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, 1645, 1761.

UZHOK
The church of Uzhok is a kind of visiting card of Transcarpathia. It is one of the most interesting structures of Boyko style. Though small in size the church makes an impression of severe and heroic structure due to its compact forms and dominating central tent roof. The remarkable decorative elements are the protruding consoles of log structures, the wide door-posts, the profiled passage from western section into the nave.
The church was constructed by masters-builders Pavlo Toniv (?) from Bitlya in Lviv province and Ivan Tsyganyn from the village of Tikhiy.

6. Uzhok. St. Michael’s church, 1745.

CHORNOHOLOVA
The church of Chornoholova is one of the best examples of Transcarpathian folk baroque architecture. The church was constructed of fir-tree in the 17th century as Boyko style structure with three towers. It owes its nowadays shape to the reconstruction of 1794 performed by master Matiy Khymych from the village of Luchky. The tower is attractive for its gorgeous baroque top, machicolation with profiled boards and arcade. The peculiarity of the church is the gallery of carved posts that support the roof around the western section and the nave.


7. Chornoholova. St. Nicholas church, 17th centuyr, 1794.

Vynogradovo District

BEKEN
A stone church constructed in the end of the 13th century or at the beginning of 14th, was converted into Protestant in 16th century. It is one of the most ancient Transcarpathian structures of Romanesque style. A new bell-tower was constructed in the 1960-s on the site of the old wooden bell-tower.

8. Beken. Protestant church, 14th century.

NOVOSELYTSIA
Local church is one of the most outstanding antiquities of Ukrainian church architecture.
It is the smallest Gothic church and at the same time the most dynamic in composition. A slender tower with high spire stresses the dominating vertical character of the church. An inscription in the western section tells that church was constructed in 1669 by Kochalovich. A brilliant ornamental composition adorns the portal of the entrance. The part of the tower is machicolation decorated with the motif of tulips.
Painting of the 17th century in the interior is a unique example of Galician painting school. At the beginning of the 19th century an iconostasis was put at the eastern wall. The last restoration was performed by Lviv specialists  1979–1981.
There is a wooden bell-tower near the church..

9. Novoselytsia. Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, 1669.
10. Novoselytsia. Iconostasis of the church of Dormition.

Volovets district

ABRANKA
The church in Abranka, built in 1804, belongs to the group of wooden baroque churches of the upper reaches of the river Latorytsia. The tower is covered with metal. The western section and the nave are equaly wide while altar section is narrower. Opasannia (overhang) is supported by brackets and forms an open porch with four posts on the main facade.
A bell-tower near the churh is a two-tiered structure combining both log structure and timber framing techniques.

11. Abranka. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, 1804.

HUKLIVIY
The church of Hukliviy constructed of fir-tree on the stone foundation, is one of the masterpieces of Carpathians. It is the oldest church of Volovets district. The structure is astonishing for its slender silhouette and proportions. All the  elements are organically combined.
A beautiful 8 m high bell tower is a part of the charming architectural ensemble. According to the records in the local chronical, the icons were painted by the German Frants Peer in 1784.

12. Hukliviy. Holy Spirit church, 18th century.

Irshava district

DOROBRATOVO
In 1930s due to the efforts of priest Yevhen Uyheli a construction of a new big (total area — 492 sq.m) brick church started. The project was made by Uzhhorod architect Emiliyan Egreshi. Iconostasis and altar were carved by Ivan Pavlyshynets, the icons were painetd by well-known Transcarpathian painter Yosyp Bokshay.

13. Dorobratovo. Iconostasis painted by Yosyp Bokshay.

IVASHKOVYTSIA
It is one of the few small wooden churches that have come down to us. It is dated after the inscription on the door-post. The pentahedral altar section is made of oak, two other sections are made of larch. Double-sloped roof covers all the sections. A low tower with machicolation is crowned with spire. To enlarge the inner space an extra room was attached to the western section. A bell-tower near the church is typical for many mountain villages — it is two-tiered timber framing construction with wide opasannia.

14. Ivashkovytsia. St. Michael’s church, 1658.

Mizhhiria district

KOLOCHAVA-HORB
Wooden two sectional three-partite church belongs to the highest architectural achievements of Transcarpathia. According to the inscription on the door-post, the church was built in 1795 by master Ferents Tekka.
The church is slender and perfect in proportions. The high tower over the western section is crowned with great baroque ensemble that consists of a cupola, lantern and smaller cupola over it. Lanterns also accentuate crests of the roofs over the nave and altar part.
Wooden two-tiered timber-framing bell tower  is covered now with metal. Both monuments were restored in 1969—1970.

15. Kolochava-Horb. Holy Spirit church, 1795.

PYLYPETS
Сhurch was built of fir-tree logs in the second half of the 18th century (may be in 1780), and the present day look it gained after the reconstruction in 1841.
Church looks monumentally. Its forms are severe and grand. The lower part of the tower is covered with shindels, and the upper part is verticaly covered with boards with figurly treated lower endings. Baroque forms of the tower — cupola, lantern, cornices, refined arcades and porch with profiled pillars decorate the structure.
A monumental two-tiered bell tower was, possibly, built in 1758.

16. Pylypets. Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, 1780.

ROZTOKA
The church has peculiar proportions and beautiful architectural details. In 17th century it was Boyko church with three towers. According to the inscription on the southern door it is possible that in 1759 the church was reconstructed and gained the nowadays look. The tower has horisontal articulation and is crowned with baroque forms. Once open porch is now converted into the glass verandah.
Wooden bell-tower near the church was built in the 18th century.

17. Roztoka. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, 1759.

Mukachevo district

VILKHOVYTSIA
The wooden church, consructed in the neighbouring village of Bystrytsia, was transferred to Vilkhovytsia in 1910 and reconstructed. Oak timbers were used to build logworks. The roof is doubly sloped with edges over the pentahedral altar part. Wide door posts decorated in a refined manner with geometrical motifs deserve special attention. Of interest is the carved passage from narthex to nave. The old iconostasis with icons of 17th century was taken apart in 1990.

18. Vilkhovytsia. St. Demetrius church, 17th century.

Perechyn district

LIKITSARY
Church was built of fir-tree in the 17th century with three towers in Boyko style. In 1748 the church was reconstructed and gained the present look. Log sections were covered with doubly sloped roof with carved cornices. A low baroque tower is placed over the western section (babynets). A similar but much smaller cupola crowns the edge of the roof over the altar section.

19. Likitsary. St. Basil the Great church, 17th century, 1746.

Rakhiv district

LAZYSHCHYNA-PLYTOVATIY
This church is one of the two Transcarpathian churches of Hutsul style which have cruciform floorplan. Four sections around the central section form the Greek cross. The four sections are covered with doubly sloped roofs while the central chamber has an octahedral drum covered with steep tent roof.
One version tells that church was constructed in the village of Yablonytsia, today Ivano-Frankivsk region, and in winter of 1871 it was taken apart and transported in sledge to Plytovatiy. It is more trustworthy to accept 1872 as erection year according to the inscription on the door post.

20. Lazyshchyna-Plytovatiy. Transfiguration of Our Lord church, 1780.

SEREDNIE VODIANE
Two wooden churches are preserved in the Rumanian village. The upper church belongs to the most ancient wooden churches of the river Tysa valley and of Ukraine. The oak logworks are the oldest parts (1428) and the structure over them was raised in about 1600. In 1760 another reconstruction took place. The severe monumental forms of the church resemble medieval Romanesque buildings. The dark manful silhouette of the church stands out against the sky. This church is one of the few wooden chuches with murals. Four-level iconostasis dates from 1761. There is a wooden framework bell-tower near the church and an interesting wooden crucufixion.

21. Serednie Vodiane. St. Nicholas church (upper), 1428, 18th century.

SEREDNIE VODIANE
The lower three-partite two sectional church with pentahedral altar part is made of oak. All sections are covered with high doubly sloped roof with opasannia (overhang) under it. A tall tower over the western section is topped off with a severe tent typical for many churches of the region of Maramorosh. The church is deprived of any adornments, only windows disturb the monolithic surface of the walls. The peculiar thing about the church is the entrance placed on the southern wall. The church was constructed in the maddle of the 17th century.


22. Serednie Vodiane. St. Nicholas church (lower), middle of the 17th century.

YASINIA
Strukivska tserkva is named after Ivan Struk, the founder of the village,who once built a chapel on the site of the present day church and this place is considered holy by local inhabitants.
The church of Ascention is one of the most perfect wooden churches in the whole Hutsul region. On the door post one can see a composition of three crosses and the date of construction — 1824. Inside a wonderful iconostasis is preserved.
11 metres high bell tower occupies its place among the best monuments of Transcarpathian folk architecture for its high architectural and artistic qualities. A story tells that bell tower was transferred to the Strukivska church in 1895 from another church that burnt down in the northern part of the village. On the upper door post the date of construction — 1813 is carved.

23. Yasinia. Ascention of Our Lord church, 1824 and bell tower, 1813.

Svaliava district

UKLYN
A small church in Uklyn is a rare architectural treasure. At the end of the 19th century it was an object of admiration for well-known historian T.Lehotski. The local story tells that this church was constructed of the timbers of the earlier church and all in all there were two churches in the village that went ito ruins or burnt down. Some church attributes are preserved and two bells are taken to the new brick church, built in 1992.

24. Uklyn. St. Peter and Paul church, end of the 18th century or beginning of the 19th.

Tiachiv district

DIBROVA
Two wooden churches are preserved in Dibrova. The lower church was erected in 1604 (another data tell 1561) and reconstructed in the first half of the18th century. Church has wonderful proportions — it proudly crowns the top of the hill flying high with its spire. The structure consists of two oak chambers of which the altar part with small arch window is the oldest part. Log sections are covered with common gable roof. The church stood unattended for a long time and then was converted into the folk life museum. Since 1994 it is in function again.

25. Dibrova. St. Nicholas church, 1604, 18th century.

KOLODNE
The church of Kolodne belongs to the most ancient monuments of the Ukrainian sacral architecture. It was constructed in the locality called Odariv and later was tranferred to the present site. The church has some features characteristic for defensive structures. Log constructions which are the oldest parts were made of oak logs 12 m long in the 15th century. Other parts of the church were constructed in 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Window in the form of the cross on the eastern wall, small round and square windows on other walls, portal with the door are very archaic elements.According to the inscription on the ceiling, the author of the baroque painting in the interior in the 18th century was Antoni Vali.

26. Kolodne. St. Nicholas church, 1470, 18th century.

UZHHOROD
One of the best wooden churches is situated in Uzhhorod open-air museum. This Lemko church is special for its brilliant proportions, slanderness, masterly worked architectural details. High baroque tower is full of grace. Cupolas crown the  tent roofs of the nave and the altar part. General rhythm of forms is quite dynamic. The hight of the western section together with the tower makes 22 m.
1777 is considered to be the year of construction. When a new masonry church was built in Shelestovo the wooden church was transferred to Muckachevo in 1928. In 1974 the church was taken to Uzhhorod. It is the only classic Lemko church left in Transcarpathia.

27. Uzhhorod. St. Michael’s church, 1777.

UZHHOROD-HORIANY
The Horiany Rotunda is one of the most ancient and most valuable architectural antiquities of Ukraine. The structure consists of two parts. The most ancient is Rotunda itself — a typical Romanesque building of a wellrounded hexahedron with its brickwork walls 2 to 2.5 metres wide, covered with the helmet-like dome which lies on a drum decorated with Romanesque motif under the cornice. Majority of the investigators consider Rotunda to date from the end of the 10th century or from the beginning of the 11th. In the 14th century a late Gothic nave was attached to Rotunda. Wonderful are the murals that cover the entire inner surface of Rotunda and the eastern wall of the nave. Murals were probably painted by north italian masters.

28. Uzhhorod-Horiany. Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary church, 10th—11th century, 14th century.

Khust district

DANYLOVO
The Danylovo Gothic church is the youngest and may be the most beautiful among the Gotic churches of Khust district. It has astonishing proportions. The composition of the forms stresses the swift upward flight of the tower with very high spire — it seems in a moment the wooden miracle would overcome the gravitation.
The structure of oak logs is two sectional, three-partite. On the western facade the closed porch is decorated with arch windows. The murals in the interior were painted in 1828 by I.Kornmayer.
A slender wooden bell tower is situated near the church.

29. Danylovo. St. Nicholas church, 1779.

OLEKSANDRIVKA
The Gothic church in Oleksandrivka is built on the top of the hill and its silhouette is clearly cut against the mountains on the background. The church is two sectional, three-partite with the walls inclined to the middle of the structure. The tower with four turrets around the spire is raised over the western chamber. The main facade has an open porch with arch gallery. A gorgeous wall painting preserved in the church is a work of Stefan Terebelski from 1779.


30. Oleksandrivka. St. Paraskeva church, 15th century, 1753.

SOKYRNYTSIA
Another Gothic masterpiece stands in this village. High doubly sloped roofs top off the two oak log sections. Bigger chamber is subdivided into narthex and nave. High tower has a tent roof with high spire and four turrets at the corners. At the main facade there is a closed porch with portal and three-cornered windows. Iconostatsis was made in 1748.
Restorers suggest that church was constructed in the village of Shashvsr at the beginning of the 17 th century. In 1770 it was transferred to Sokyrnytsia and reconstructed. The same year a tall bell tower was erected using framed timber technique.


31. Sokyrnytsia. St. Nicholas church, 17th century. 1704.