RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BERDICHEV MONASTERY

Yurii Pavlenko, head of the regional administration in central Ukrainian Zhytomyr, told participants of the annual pilgrimage to the icon of the Mother of God of Berdychiv on 22 July 2007 that the state will provide financial support for the Discalced Carmelite monastery as a monument of architecture.

“Inasmuch as the church is separate from the state, the regional administration cannot allot costs for restoration,” said Pavlenko. “From its central budget the state allots money for monuments of architecture, so we have given a statement from the region in which we ask to allot a subvention for this monastery from the state budget.”

According to Berdychiv Mayor Vasyl Mazur, no less than 5 million hryvnias (approximately US $ 1 million) will be necessary for the reconstruction of the complex. “This is a minimum,” said Mazur. “But I would ask for 10 million hryvnias: the lower church there needs to be rebuilt, and the square. This year we received 15,000 pilgrims. The representatives of diplomat missions of many European countries visited us. This is the reputation not only of the city but of the country.” He added that he expects the state will allot 1.5 million hryvnias for the restoration of the Church of St. Barbara, in which French author Honore de Balzac was married.

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