The Dominican Monastery, Zhovkva

The cathedral is considered to have been built following the sample of the basilica in the city of Naples, Italy. Strict, somewhat simplified forms of the building constitute a sample of defensive architecture. The Dominican Monastery was attached to the defensive wall of Zhovkva, and it could be used as a fortification. There was a wooden chapel of the Ascension of the Holy Virgin (which suffered twice in the fires) in that place. After the death of her son Marek Sobieski at war, his mother Zofia Teofila launched construction of a new cathedral in Zhovkva in 1652. The newly built cathedral was given to the monks of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans).
The cells of the Dominican Monastery were built in 1754-1792. In 1792 the facades of the cathedral acquired the forms preserved up till present. The building survived in World War II. During the USSR period the monastery was given to the Soviet military men, and the regiment’s barracks there, a torture chamber, and warehouses were located there.
In the period of quick USSR collapse the semi-destroyed cathedral was given to the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. Since that time restoration of what was still there was launched and the former Catholic cathedral was adjusted to the new requirements.