Fortified Monastery, Mezhyrich

openas of 2026-10-011521Volyn

Photo: Prymasal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

A 15th–17th-century fortress-monastery three kilometres from Ostroh.

Mezhyrich near Ostroh belonged to the Ostrozky princes from the late 14th century. The Trinity Cathedral of sandstone and brick was, according to the ESU, built somewhat later than the Epiphany Cathedral in Ostroh, dated to 1521; there are also versions giving 1453 or 1460. It is a three-nave, five-domed church in the tradition of Old Rus cross-domed architecture, and its tall windows have Gothic white-stone tracery. In 1606–1610 two-storey wings of cells were added to the cathedral, and the courtyard was enclosed by walls with four hexagonal corner towers: the perimeter is 482 m, the height 5–8 m. By a deed of 28 June 1612 Prince Yanush Ostrozky handed the cathedral over to the Franciscans. In 1981 the complex became part of the Ostroh Reserve, and in 1991 a monastery for men reopened here.

Routes through this landmark

• Ostroh Heritage