Key points:
- The tradition of decorating crosses has been included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage.
- The custom has been preserved in the village of Monastyrok in the Ternopil region.
- There are 14 crosses, each assigned to a family.
- Preparations for the ceremony have been underway since spring.
- Traditions are passed down through the generations and hold symbolic significance.
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has added the tradition of adorning the Stations of the Cross in the village of Monastyrok, Ternopil Oblast, to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is an ancient ritual that has been preserved in the Bilche-Zolotetsk community and forms an integral part of the spiritual life of the local residents.
The tradition has deep historical roots. The village of Monastyrok is known for its 9th–10th-century rock-cut monastery, featuring a cave church and a dolmen. In the 17th century, the Vozdvyzhensky Basilian Monastery also operated here. The ritual of decorating the crosses developed as part of the religious practice associated with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross.
Every year, on the eve of the feast, the villagers prepare 14 crosses for the Way of the Cross, each assigned to a separate family. The decoration process lasts for several months. Fresh flowers, grasses and ribbons are used. It is mainly young women who take part in the preparations, for whom this role holds symbolic significance.
After the festive liturgy, the community walks the Way of the Cross. The procession ends at the cave church, where the participants receive a blessing. This is seen as a symbol of the connection between generations, faith and the future. If a girl who took part in decorating the cross gets married, her place is taken by another female member of the family.
The Ministry of Culture notes that such practices reflect the living heritage of communities and demonstrate the continuity of cultural traditions even in times of social challenges. The preservation of the ritual in Monastyrok is seen as an example of the resilience of local identity.
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Bukovinian traditions added to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
