In the village of Velyka Luka, Ukraine’s Ternopil region, a historical and architectural monument of the 17th century – a bell tower – has been restored.
The project cost nearly UAH 1 million, as stated in an exclusive report by TSN. Morning.
It is reported that the funds for the restoration works were raised by local residents and patrons. Modern plaster and a metal roof have been removed from the 400-year-old building, located outside the Church of St. Michael the Archangel (run by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), to restore a stone tower with walls.
The old bell tower has regained its original appearance with the original masonry, shingled roof, oak stairs to the top tier, an ancient wooden ceiling under the roof, fitted with pegs instead of iron nails.
For two years, architects and historians had been persuading locals to allow getting rid of modern plaster and dismantle the metal roof. And after the work was done, an ancient, almost 400-year-old years old stone walls surfaced. However, the team had to pour mortar inbetween the stones to bond them, according to an ancient recipe. To lay a new roof, coniferous shingles were steamed.
“They were boiled in special solutions, ensuring lifetime of at least a hundred years,” said architect Ihor Yavorsky.
A lot of the work was done by locals themselves: 20 local residents had been helping the team of restorers. For several years, funds were being raised for the bell tower in Velyka Luka. After the completion of all works, the bell tower was consecrated.
Incidentally, the bell tower in Velyka Luka survived more than one church standing near it: first a wooden one burned down and then a stone one was built. “The church was rebuilt several times. The bell tower has survived throughout this period, retaining an almost authentic look without being rebuilt,” said Yaroslav Pelekhaty, a local historian.
Now anyone can go up to the third floor of the bell tower to check out the view through the ports, see the beauty of century-old bells, one of which weighs a tonne, and listen to their ringing.
Source: TSN. Morning
