Description of the attraction
One of the attractions of the city of Lutsk is the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, which is located on the territory of the historical and cultural reserve "Old Lutsk" at D. Galitsky Street, 2.
In the XVII century. the temple was part of the architectural ensemble of buildings of the Holy Cross Brotherhood, which also included the buildings of the monastery, school and hospital. The founders of the Lutsk brotherhood were the Volyn nobles, among whom was the founder of the Kiev brotherhood Galshka Gulevichevna. With donations from this famous Ukrainian patron of the arts, it was built in 1619-1622. the main temple of the brotherhood, which has a pronounced defensive character. The structure is a classic example of a wooden three-frame three-domed temple, demonstrating the transition of wooden architecture to stone. The three domes of the church emphasized the three-part axial composition of the temple. Outside, the porch was in the form of a defense tower with a staircase that led to the vault.
In 1803 the church was damaged by fire. A year later, the monastery was dismantled to the altar part, and its remains were sold as building materials. In 1888, a chapel was built on this site, and by 1890 the church itself was completely rebuilt, which included the surviving ancient apse with a preserved reinforcing frieze of the 17th century. with keeled niches, typical for the architecture of Volyn at that time. The church was crowned with a dome. After a while, the walls were painted with the image of the former Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.
As a result of fires and rebuildings, this architectural monument has significantly changed its appearance. Now the building is stone, rectangular in shape, with a vestibule in the west and a semicircular apse in the east. The church building is strengthened by two buttresses. The central part of the church is crowned with a brick dome, which rests on vaults over five internal niches. The outer wall of the apse is decorated with a frieze of keeled niches.
Today the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate.
