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Bell Tower of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Restored in Drohobych

In Drohobych, the large-scale restoration of the wooden bell tower of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross has been completed. This landmark is a national architectural heritage site dating back to the late 17th century.

The monumental bell tower is considered one of the finest examples of 17th-century Galician wooden architecture. In 2019, it was declared to be in an emergency condition, prompting a two-year restoration effort.

The completion of the restoration was announced during an administrative meeting by Volodymyr Kkhanas, head of the Department of Culture and Tourism Development.

Project Funding:

  • In 2023, nearly 1 million UAH was allocated: 800,000 UAH from the regional budget and 199,000 UAH from the local budget.
  • In 2024, an additional 692,000 UAH was provided from the regional budget.

Restoration work included:

  • strengthening stone foundations;
  • cleaning wooden structural elements;
  • installing frame components from beams;
  • replacing oak sills;
  • cladding walls with boards;
  • restoring wooden stairs;
  • covering the roof with shingles;
  • applying bio- and fire-protective treatments to the wood;
  • hydrophobization of exterior surfaces;
  • installing a lightning protection system.

The chief architect of the project was Serhiy Pinkovsky, and the work was carried out by TzDV “Lviv Restoration.”

Historical Background:

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Drohobych is one of the oldest wooden churches in Ukraine. The first mention of a church on this site dates back to 1496, but the original structure was destroyed during a Tatar raid. The current church was built in 1613 and expanded in 1661 with the addition of an upper chapel dedicated to the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The bell tower was likely constructed during the same period.

The bell tower has undergone multiple restorations:

  • in 1709,
  • repairs in 1832 and 1842,
  • and new shingle roofing in the 1960s.

The structure has retained its authentic construction and layout.

As part of earlier restoration efforts in Drohobych, the UNESCO-recognized iconostasis of the Church of St. George was also restored. Both churches are part of the Drohobychchyna Museum.

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