Holy Trinity Monastery
Holy Trinity Monastery in Mezhyrich is a striking example of medieval architecture in Ukraine. This village, for the first time recorded in 1386, is located on the outskirts of Ostroh.
Trinity Church is considered to be the real decoration of the monastery. The Our Lady Icon of the 14th century, kept there, was a gift to Ostroz’kyi princes from the Ecumenical Patriarch for keeping faithfulness to Holy Orthodoxy. According to recorded sources, the princes always carried the Our Lady Icon with, taking a field.
Until the 17th century the icon belonged to Ostroz’kyi princes and came down from father to son. In the 17th century prince Yanush Ostroz’kyi gave the icon to the monastery. Then in 1886 Empress Maria Alexandrovna ordered to make a setting, decorated with 12 emeralds, specially for this shrine. In 1915 the icon was carried to Kharkiv, but three years later returned back.
You can hear many real-life stories, showing how the miraculous icon helped prayers, healed sick people, and gave hope for an heir in childless families.
The monastery has been built in the classical traditions of Orthodox architecture. It is a citadel with large internal area surrounded by ancient walls. Inside the monastery complex you will notice various buildings and some of them you’ll have opportunity to visit.
An ancient necropolis is situated under the walls of Holy Trinity Monastery. On the right side of the main entrance to the monastery you can see the unique stove built of red brick, which consists of four pillars that are placed in the form of a square and combined with high arches. Paintings in the Renaissance style adorn the arches’ dome. To the right side of the stove there is unique Zaslavs’ka Gate. The courtyard of Trinity Cathedral resembles Epiphany Cathedral, which is also located in Ostroh.
As a result of a fire in 1820 the monastery was almost completely destroyed. A big part of the library building with more than 2000 books burned at that time.
Today Mezhyrich Holy Trinity Monastery is open and tourists from different countries come there to see its beauty and feel the spiritual atmosphere of its surroundings.
Holy Trinity Monastery is located on Naberezhna Street. Mezhyrich is located 4 kilometers from Ostroh. From Ostroh you can take a minibus or a regular bus to Mezhyrich. If you go by car you should follow Rivne-Ostroh Highway to the city of Ostroh, turning to the right to Mezhyrich.
