The tradition of "dressing crosses" has been added to the national heritage list - Ministry of Culture
Kyiv • UNN
The Ministry of Culture has added the ritual of decorating 14 crosses in Ternopil region to the national list. The tradition, dating back to the 18th century, is maintained by local girls and families.
The tradition of "Dressing the Crosses" has been added to the national list of intangible cultural heritage, the Ministry of Culture reported, writes UNN.
The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has added "The tradition of dressing the crosses of the Way of the Cross in the village of Monastyrok, Ternopil region" to the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
What this tradition means
This custom, noted the Ministry of Culture, is an important part of the spiritual life of the community and a symbol of the continuity of generations. It is connected with the history of the small village of Monastyrok of the Bilche-Zolotecka territorial community, which has ancient roots - a rock monastery of the IX-X centuries with a cave temple and a dolmen stone (sanctuary) has been preserved here, and in 1600 the Exaltation Basilian Monastery was founded.
According to legends, the tradition of dressing the crosses of the Way of the Cross has existed since at least the 18th century and has been preserved to this day thanks to local residents. The Way of the Cross is part of the spiritual and historical and cultural heritage of the village of Monastyrok. The main bearers of the tradition are, first of all, old-timers, women, unmarried girls and youth, who support and pass on this custom from generation to generation.
The ritual takes place on the eve of the patronal feast of the Exaltation of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross. It involves 14 large crosses of the Way of the Cross, assigned to individual families. The main participants are unmarried girls from these families, who decorate the crosses with flowers, herbs and ribbons, preparing for this since spring.
After the festive liturgy, a solemn procession along the Way of the Cross takes place, which ends near the cave temple. Girls who dressed the crosses receive a blessing, which symbolizes the connection of faith, family and future married life. If a girl who dressed the cross gets married, this role is taken over by another representative of the family.
Every year, the community continues to practice the tradition of dressing the crosses of the Way of the Cross in the village of Monastyrok, carrying out appropriate measures for the preparation and performance of the ritual on the eve of the patronal feast.