The wooden Church of the Resurrection in the village of Polyany, in western Ukraine, was built in 1903. Its magnificent interior frescoes were painted by Modest Sosenko, a pioneer of neo-Byzantinism, in 1911-1913. Decades of rain and neglect have badly damaged the Sosenko frescoes, which are in grave need of restoration.
"The Church of the Resurrection in the village of Polyany, in western Ukraine, was built of wood in 1903. It was designed by the noted Ukrainian architect Vasyl Nahirny, and its interior frescoes were painted by Modest Sosenko, a pioneer of neo-Byzantinism, in 1911-1913. The church is an architectural monument of regional significance.
Ukraine is home to 2,500 wooden churches, or tserkvas, the largest number in the world. The oldest date from the 16th century and are vibrant symbols of Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
The Church of the Resurrection is the only remaining tserkva painted by Sosenko. He painted the central dome, iconostasis and side altars.
The tserkva was closed during the Soviet era. Decades of rain and neglect have badly damaged the Sosenko frescoes. In 2020 the parish community began restoring the Church of the Resurrection with the support of the Foundation to Preserve Ukraine’s Sacral Arts, which donated funds to reinforce the tserkva’s domes to protect the frescoes from further damage.
The budget for the restoration of the Sosenko frescoes is US$75,000."
