NON-EXISTING TSERKVAS AS UKRAINIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE IN SACRAL LANDSCAPE IN SOLYNA COMMUNE

Abstract

The article presents the non-existing tserkvas in sacred landscape in Solyna commune (in the Polish-Ukrainian borderland). These tserkvas represent 20 sacral objects with the architectural specificity of the Ukrainian national wooden and stone tserkva. History of non-existing tserkvas in the landscape of Solyna commune has been analyzed. In particular, there was noted the uniqueness of the Ukrainian tserkva, the technique of “zrub” and elements of “zalom” in Ukrainian architecture. This aspect integrate Ukrainian tserkvas, which vary only in terms proportions in length, width and height. Ukrainian tserkvas in Solyna commune were destroyed after the mass deportation of Ukrainian ethnic population from their land after the year 1947. Tserkvas lost the religious, cultural and national role and sacred landscape lost its meaning. Non-existing tserkvas (20) occupy almost 100% of all the tserkvas in the study area. The article shows the specificity of Ukrainian wooden and stone tserkvas architecture. Two tserkvas were destroyed in the years 1945-1947 in Tyskova and Radeva. Four tserkvas were destroyed after the years 1945-1947 in Bukovets, Studenne, Ralske and Berezhnytsya Dolishnya. Five tserkvas were disassembled in the postwar period in Solyna, Berezka, Horodok, Terka, Vovkovyja. Three tserkvas were destroyed in the postwar period in Zaviz, Bibrka, Volya Matyasova. In the place of its tserkvas that was destroyed a Roman Catholic Church was built. Six tserkvas were taken over by Roman Catholic Church in Mychkivtsi, Polyanchyk, Mychkiv, Berezhnytsya Horishnya, Horyanka and Zabriddya. Nonexisting tserkvas were analyzed in the Solyna commune with their surrounding landscape. It is proved that these all are original and represent a wide diversity of architecture and symbols of Ukrainian religious architecture, showing the Ukrainian character that harmonizes the area and landscape. The article discusses the perspective of maintaining and reconstructing tserkvas, as well as manner and methods of studying this issue.