L’Viv

L’Viv is the largest, western-most city in Ukraine.  Hence, it was the least influenced and most enraged by socialism.  This part of the country has a rich legacy of wars fought by city states and countries for a 1000 years.  Ultimately it became to focus of the Resistance Movement during communism’s relatively brief insurgence into this part of Europe.

The most “efficient” way to travel to and from L’Viv is by overnight train.  The trains leave around 8 pm and arrive about 11 hours later after innumerable stops.  Faster by car, but a Westerner shouldn’t drive in Ukraine and why not save a night’s hotel by sleeping on the train!  We had a private berth, clean sheets and plenty of tea.

L’Viv’s primary cultural attraction is it’s Catholic Churches.  They are everywhere, very old, very beautiful and very unique.  There are Roman, Ukrainian, Orthodox, Apostolic, Armenian and many other types of Catholicism here.  Each has a unique way to worship, unique icons, and a typically ethnic driven congregation.  (Note: these churches rival or surpass many western European cathedrals.)

  

 

Alyona also showed us the “other Statue of Liberty” .  Apparently France donated two of our Lady Liberty.  One to the US and the other to L’Viv.  This one, however, is sitting down!

 

Finally, as we were visiting a Catholic Cemetery we joined a large group of people, priests, nuns, and bishops in, what we think is a yearly ceremony.  They walked throughout the cemetery singing and chanting.  Quite inspiring.  In the procession, we ended up right behind the bishops.