Church of the Theophany (Bohoyavlennya Hospodnyoho), Kuhayiv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine

  Erected c.1693; iconostasis 18th century 

WOODEN CHURCHES IN UKRAINE

A CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP

JUNE 24 - JULY 6, 2019

The Department of Architecture and Conservation of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” in Lviv, Ukraine, in conjunction with USA facilitators Myron Stachiw (architectural historian) and Yuri Yanchyshyn (furniture conservator), are hosting a two-week workshop from June 24 to July 6, 2019.  The goal of the workshop will be to teach participants how to conduct a conservation assessment: to examine, assess, and document a wooden structure, in this case the Church of the Theophany (Bohoyavlennya Hospodnyoho) in the village of Kuhayiv, Lviv Oblast, erected in 1693.  The historic log church is no longer in use, as the congregation recently erected a new masonry church.  The building and its 18th century iconostasis are in dire need of conservation and restoration.

The workshop is open to students and recent graduates of art and architectural conservation programs, programs in historic preservation, art and architectural history, as well as to practicing early- and mid-career professionals in these fields. It will encompass the assessment of wood as the primary material of this art and architectural form, as well as the paintings on timber walls, the iconostasis and icons. This assessment will take the form of a highly detailed condition report and recommendations for conservation, to which all attendees will contribute. 

In addition to the assessments, participants will visit a studio conducting the conservation of a 17th century iconostasis; visit and tour other sites; and will attend lectures / seminars by U.S., Ukrainian, and international practitioners in the field on the history of the wooden churches and their interiors, wood and its properties, wood identification, construction methods, documentation procedures, preservation issues, and other topics.  

Field trips will bring participants to four of the eight Ukrainian wooden churches named in 2013 to the UNESCO World Heritage List in Rohatyn, Drohobych, Potelych, and Zhovkva (see https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1424; a virtual tour of the eight churches is available at http://churches.authenticukraine.com.ua/en/).  

Ukraine has a long tradition of wooden church building; archaeological remains of wooden churches have been discovered dating back to the 10th-11th centuries.   Within each of the ethnographic sub-regions of Ukraine unique and distinctive building technologies, forms, and stylistic expressions have evolved, adopting and adapting fashionable European stylistic trends.  In the eight oblasts within Western Ukraine, more than 2100 wooden churches, dating from the 16th- through the 20th centuries, survive in various states of preservation.  In all of Ukraine the number is greater than 3000.

Many of these churches are in need of conservation, repair, and restoration.  Sadly, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, which oversees the preservation of these historical monuments, lacks the necessary funds and sufficient numbers of conservators trained in state-of-the-art methods of assessment and conservation to address these needs.  This workshop is designed to begin the process of training a new generation of Ukrainian conservators.  The Department of Architecture and Conservation at the Lviv Polythechnic National University, with help from Western scholars, is actively expanding its existing architectural conservation program (B.A. and M.A. degrees in conservation of masonry and artificial stone) to include the conservation of wooden artifacts and buildings, painting on wood, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art conservation laboratory at the Lviv Polytechnic.  This workshop is the first of what will be an annual summer training program in the preservation, conservation, and restoration of Ukraine’s architectural and cultural heritage.  We invite your participation and support.

For an overview of wood conservation in Ukraine please visit   https://www.periodfurnitureconservation.com/speaking-arrangements/fulbright    

The cost of this workshop is $700.00 for students, and $1000 for early and mid-career professionals, which will include modest hotel accommodations, some meals, and all ground transportation during the workshop. Travel to and from Ukraine is the responsibility of the individual participant. A limited number of full and partial scholarships are available for American students and first year graduates.

 For more information:please contact Myron Stachiw at mostachiw@gmail.com

To apply: please send a short cover letter and CV to Myron Stachiw at mostachiw@gmail.com.

Application deadline: May 17, 2019

FAQ

Tentative Schedule: DOWNLOAD PDF (English) here DOWNLOAD PDF (Ukrainian) here

Staff / Speakers / Lectures List: DOWNLOAD PDF here

Things to bring: forthcoming

Travel to Ukraine

Citizens of the U.S.A and the EU may travel to and visit Ukraine for up to 90 days without a Ukrainian visa.  A two- to three-week visit will not require any special arrangements with or documentation from the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate. 

A number of U.S. and international carriers fly to Ukraine, and specifically to Lviv, among them the United, Polish airline LOT, Ukraine International Air, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines.  Numerous other U.S. and international airlines fly into Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, from which one can travel to Lviv by air or train. 

Lviv is a largest city in western Ukraine, about 70 km from the border with Poland.  Its population exceeds 700,000, making it the seventh largest in the country.  Established in the 13th century, the city is one of the cultural centers of Ukraine.  Its architecture reflects its rich heritage of more than 500 years under the Polish and Austro-Hungarian empires, blending central and Eastern European styles with those of Italy and Germany.  A large district in the city center is UNESCO World Heritage site.

 Language

The dominant language in Lviv is Ukrainian, though many people understand and some speak Russian.  The knowledge and use of English is steadily increasing, especially among those below the age of 35.  Polish is also widely understood, given the proximity to Poland.

 Currency

The currency of Ukraine is the Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH).  The current exchange rate (March 2019) against the dollar is $1 = 27.17 UAH.  Currency exchange kiosks are widely available, as are banks and ATM machines which dispense the local currency (UAH).  Credit cards are accepted in many establishments that may be frequented by foreigners (restaurants, hotels, some stores), but you should notify your credit card issuer of your plans to use your card in Ukraine before you leave for Ukraine.  Smaller establishments and many stores and restaurants outside of the cities require the use of local currency.

 Climate and weather in Lviv and Rohatyn

During the months of June, July and August you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures in Lviv and the surrounding region. On average, the warmest month is July.  Average temperatures in late June-early July are in the low to high 70s (on the Fahrenheit scale), though occasional days with temperatures in the 50s are not unusual.  On average the skies are clear to partly cloudy about 50-60% of the time during this period.

 Housing and during the workshop

Participants in the workshop will be offered housing from June 23 through July 6.  Rooms will be provided in dormitories of the Lviv Polytechnic National University during the period we will stay in Lviv, and in a hotel in Rohatyn at the expense of the workshop organizers.  If participants arrive in Lviv prior to June 23 or stay in Lviv after July 6, the cost of housing will be their responsibility.

 Meals

In Lviv, where participants will stay in a dormitory, meals will not be provided, but there are many options available for very reasonably-priced dining in the neighborhood.  During the week in Rohatyn (72 km from Lviv), breakfasts will be included in the hotel accommodations, but lunches and dinners will be the responsibility of participants.  A small city of about 8,000, Rohatyn offers a number of very reasonably-priced eateries.