The Basilian Monastery (the Nativity of Christ Monastery), Zhovkva

A cult building and residence of the Basilian Fathers, a monument of history and architecture. One of the most interesting Ukrainian churches famous for its wall painting that combines biblical motives with national and historical ones. The Orthodox Church of the Nativity of Christ in Zhovkva, according to the mentions in the documents, was in that place even before the foundation of the town. The Church of the Nativity of Christ was built in the Renaissance style — cross-like in the design, with a high nave, narrow windows and a semi-rounded dome. Construction was finished in the late XVIIth century, in the period (and with the support) of Żołkiewski’s grandson – King Jan ІІІ Sobieski. When the Soviets came, in 1944 the monastery was closed and transformed into the torture chamber of the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs. Later a Russian school was accommodated in the cells, and the children of the military men attended it. Since 1946 the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church was prohibited, and the church was handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church. Only in 1989, when the Greek-Catholic church reemerged from the underground, the monastery complex was given back to it. Then gradual restoration of the monastery buildings which is still going on was launched.