Pilgrimage Ukraine
Day 1
Today, we start our way from Suceava to the centre of old believers –Bila Krynytsia. There, we will visit a magnificent Dormition of the Mother of God Church and talk with a local old-believer priest about the peculiarities of this branch of Christianity. Then, we start our way to Chernivtsi of Northern Bukovina. After check-in at the hotel, we have a sighting excursion in this stylish city on the river Prut. With our guide, you explore this former most Eastern cultural centre of Austro-Hungarian Empire where once there were more libraries than bakeries. You visit beautiful former residence of the Orthodox metropolitans of Bukovina and Dalmatia which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, culture houses of different nations, walk along the main boulevard with numerous art nouveau buildings, marvel at the Opera House built by the famous Austro-Hungarian architecture studio Fellner & Helmer, explore the Round Square where is situated the town hall. Moreover, if you are lucky, up from the town hall you will hear the last trumpeter of Ukraine. During our tour, among other things, we will visit the street named after prominent Romanian writer, poet, novelist and journalist – Mihai Eminescu who lived and studied in Chernivtsi. We will also see the monument dedicated to him and the school where he was studying in 1859-1884. In the evening, we will enjoy our dinner and share our expectations about the trip.
Day 2
Today, we will proceed our acquaintance with the city of Chernivtsi.
Our next highlight for today is the local cemetery, where are buried such prominent Romanians as philologist and teacher Aron Pumnul, historian and politician Eudoxiu Hurmuzachi, folklorist – Ion G. Sbiera. After that, our guide will show you the former residence of Tzadikim from Friedman dynasty. Tzadikim is a title in Judaism and especially in Hassidism, a branch of Orthodox Judaism given to people considered righteous. Our final highlight for today is Bancheny monastery, which is one the most recently built monasteries in the whole Ukraine.
In the evening, we come back to Chernivtsi.
Day 3
After breakfast, we will start our way. Our first highlight for today is St. John the Apostle monastery which is situated on the right high bank of the Dnister River from which you will see an exciting panorama of Zalishchyky town – the border between Galizia and Bukivina regions and the Dnister River canyon. Then, we will proceed to the city of Chortkiv. During our city tour in the town of Chortkiv we will explore the local castle, the Town Hall and marvel at the magnificent St. Stanislaus Church and beautiful Church of St. Mary. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Pochaiv, where we stay for a night.
Our main highlight for today is Zarvanytsia which is known for its icon of the Mother of God, believed to work miracles and is a popular site of pilgrimage. According to the legend, in 1240 when the capital of Kyiv Rus Kyiv was devastated by a Mongol invasion, one monk fled from the city. After a long and tiresome way he decided to stop in a secluded valley to drink water from a spring and pray to the Blessed Virgin. Having done so, and exhausted by the long travel, he fell asleep and saw the Mother of God. After awakening, he found the icon and decided to stay there and build a chapel for the icon.
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