First-year students of the A5 “Vocational Education. Digital Technologies” program and master’s students of the A1 “Educational Sciences” program embarked on an educational and cultural journey through the Halych region, accompanied by faculty members of the Bohdan Stuparyk Department of Pedagogy and Educational Management: Head of the Department, Professor, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences Liubov Prokopiv, Professor, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences Viktoriia Stynska, and Assistants, PhDs Nataliia Basarab, Mariana Dereniuk, and Taras Paska.
The route of the trip included the notable historical and cultural centers of the Halych-Volhynian State — the city of Halych and the village of Krylos.
The first stop was the Assumption Church in Krylos, the spiritual heart of princely Halych, where important religious services and princely burials took place in the past. The foundations of the ancient cathedral have been preserved on the church grounds, and the modern church continues to serve as a living sanctuary, connecting the past with the present.
Next, students visited the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Prykarpattia, a unique open-air museum that immerses visitors in the world of a traditional Ukrainian village. Here they saw authentic houses, farm buildings, a smithy, a windmill, and craft workshops that recreate the everyday life of residents of Hutsulshchyna, Boykivshchyna, Pokuttya, and Opillia, experiencing the spirit of past generations.
The next landmark was the Church of St. Panteleimon in Halych, a unique architectural monument of the 12th century and the only building that has survived almost intact from the times of the Halych-Volhynian State. Its majestic stone walls and restrained Romanesque style impress with simplicity and spiritual depth, reflecting the high culture and craftsmanship of ancient builders.
The journey concluded with a visit to the Halych Castle, a symbol of princely grandeur and resilience, offering picturesque views of the Dniester River and the ancient city. Every stone of the castle reminds visitors of the glorious pages of Ukrainian history and the princely majesty of Halych.
Special thanks are extended to Taras Malaniuk, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Social and Cultural Management, Show Business, and Event Management at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, for providing an insightful and scholarly-guided tour of the Halych region. His expert commentary, historical analysis, and deep knowledge of the region’s cultural heritage helped students form a comprehensive understanding of Halychyna’s historical and cultural development, enhancing their intellectual curiosity and professional worldview.
The educational and cultural journey became a vivid example of combining education with cultural experience. It deepened students’ historical and cultural knowledge, fostered national awareness, and developed professional competencies for future teachers and educational managers. The trip was an inspiring journey into the past, allowing participants to feel pride in Ukrainian history and appreciate the value of their native region’s heritage.
