The Saint-Miklos Castle. Part two.

The continuation of the story of about my trip to Saint Miklos castle in the village in Chinadievo in the fall of 2008.

Continue reading   Comments (0)   05.10.2010. 08:20  

The Saint-Miklos Castle. Part one.

I’d like to begin by saying that we had to check this place out more than once before we could accumulate enough material to write this up. A few times the opportunity of taking a look inside simply wasn’t there and the visits would be limited to doing some walking around and staring at the crumbling walls. On one occasion though, while passing through a village of Chinadievo (ukr: Чинадієво), we decided to try our luck again and unlike the previous times, the person who is temporarily leasing the castle (since 2001 for the next 30 years) happened to be on site. A few words about him: Joseph Bartosh is a local painter who dedicated one of the rooms in the castle to be his work shop, where many young and upcoming talents are learning the art of painting. Joseph also happens to be part of Kalgan-A charity group, which consists of many prominent painters of Transcarpatia, who for many years have been trying to renovate the castle in as much as their own resources and capabilities allow for. Getting inside the castle turned out to be just a matter of finding the right door and ringing the bell. During that particular visit we were able to examine the basement of the castle and also the part of the building found all the way up at top right underneath the roof. If you decide to visit the site, make sure Joseph is there at the time as he can provide an awesome tour around the castle. I do want to warn you though… prepare yourself for some disappointment and I am going to tell you why in a bit.

Continue reading   Comments (0)   05.10.2010. 08:17  

Women’s Monastery of Kopashnevo. Part Two.

This is the second part of the story about trip to the monastery in Polyana, which is in close proximity to Kopashnevo of the Hust region. Part One.

Continue reading   Comments (0)   05.10.2010. 08:08  

Women’s Monastery in Kopashnevo. Part One.

Kopashnevo (ukr: Копа�?ново) is found in the Hust region of Transcapatia and is located 245 meters above the sea level. The records of Kopashnevo date all the way back to 1396. The village is fairly spread out and is surrounded by what I would call little suburbs each of which is really a smaller village in itself. Unusually frequent occurrence of both Greek orthodox and Greek Catholic churches is something that immediately catches one’s eye in Kopashnevo.

Continue reading   Comments (0)   05.10.2010. 08:06  

Deserted Greek Catholic Church of Nankovo

About one out of the five to seven trips happens to be to the place, which leaves behind the feeling close to the state of a psychological trauma. The discouragement brought by these journeys makes me contemplate quitting my travelling activities all together. It seems that sometimes it’s really the only way I can avoid feeling the shame for how far things can really regress in my native region.

Continue reading   Comments (0)   05.10.2010. 08:00