Bernardine Monastery, Husiatyn
The Bernardine Monastery is a Roman Catholic monastery complex in Husiatyn, in the Ternopil Oblast in western Ukraine. An architectural monument of national importance.
History
The monastery was founded by, who donated funds for its construction in 1610. However, work on the monastery complex continued for another fifteen years and was only completed after the founder's death. In the 17th century, the monastery buildings were destroyed during Turkish and Tatar invasions and Cossack uprisings. As a result, in the second half of the century, the church and monastery were completely ruined and uninhabitable, so the Bernardines left Husiatyn in 1660. After the monks returned in 1690, Adam Mikołaj Sieniawski financed the reconstruction of the monastery complex, which lasted until 1723.After the partitions of Poland, Husiatyn found itself under Austrian rule. In 1786, by decree of Emperor Joseph II, the monastery was dissolved. The church, which had belonged to the Bernardines, was converted into a parish church, while the monastery became a presbytery and the seat of the municipal office. Between 1913 and 1933, the parish priest was, a social and political activist and member of the Sejm during its first term. In 1938, the Bernardines regained control of the monastery in Husiatyn, but after only six years they had to leave the town, together with all Polish residents. The church, which had been taken away from the Catholics, was used to house a factory and then a chemical warehouse. In 1975, the devastated buildings underwent partial renovation. However, it was not until 1990 that it was possible to restore the buildings to their original purpose, and in that year the Bernardine Order regained the destroyed buildings.