Yaremche (Yaremcha until 2006) is a mountain resort, the most famous tourist center of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, located at the altitude of 550-585 m above sea level, on picturesque valley of the Prut River. It was first mentioned in 1787, but the villages of Dora and Yamna, which not long ago entered the city boundaries, have somewhat earlier history (14-15th centuries). Passing through the village of Dora, can be seen two delicate wooden sacred buildings: the Church of the Holy Prophet Elias and a belfry nearby, built in 1937.
The church is located on the territory of the Greek Catholic Studio monastery of St. Elias and St. John the Baptist and was built by local artists Ivan Yavorsky and Petro Hryhoruk in the beginning of 20th century, being completed in summer of 1938. After the WWII, the monastery life was suspended by the Soviet authorities; many monks were hosted by villagers. Despite repetitive attempts to dismantle the church, it survived, owing to strong religious traditions in the local community.
In 1968, the church was made into a museum of atheism and it was used so until the end of the Soviet epoch. Erected without any nails, is a well-preserved example of traditional Hutsul architecture. What is the most striking about it, is its unique interior with truly impressive oval iconostasis. Symbolizing the All-seeing Eye, the iconostasis was realised by the director of the local school Ivan Svyshchuk, who died in Germany during WWII. His son, a priest Jaroslav, returned to Ukraine in early 1990s.
About the stamps
The stamps are part of a large definitive stamps series about leaf and fruits, about which I wrote here.
References
Yaremche travel guide - Green Ukraine
Church of St. Prophet Elijah (Dora village) and monastery of the monks of Studite Brethren - Green Ukraine
Sender: Marina / marinami (postcrossing) UA-1554355
Sent from Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast / Ukraine), on 06.05.2017
No comments:
Post a Comment