Kamianets- Podilskyi is a historic medieval city situated in Khmelnytskyi Oblast of Ukraine.
Location: Khmelnytskyi Oblast
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox church located in the Kamianets- Podilskyi. It was constructed in neo- Byzantine architectural style in 1893 to mark 100th anniversary of annexation of Podilia (Podolia) region to Russian Empire. Finances for construction of the magnificent temple were gathered from volunteers and private donations mostly. Gospel and priest's cross was given by Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II. Huge carpet on the first floor was donated by a local women's gymnasium. Two layered iconostasis was designed by master Akhapkin. In 1897 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Kamianets- Podilskyi was officially consecrated.
The main altar of a church was dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky, medieval Russian prince and also patron saint of Emperor Alexander III who died shortly before construction of the cathedral was completed. The South altar was dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria and North altar was dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
In 1936 fanatical atheists blew up the main church of Kamianets- Podilskyi and reused its bricks. In 2000 new church of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was reconstructed in its original appearance.
Kamianets- Podilskyi Castle or the Old Castle of Kamianets- Podilskyi is one of the largest medieval strongholds in Ukraine. It is hard to say when Kamianets- Podilskyi Castle was originally constructed, but the first time it was mentioned is in 1374 in a document of Yuri Koriatovich. The site was chosen wisely. Deep canyon carved by Smotrych River carved natural protection of the medieval castle. Old Kamianets- Podilskyi Castle has several defensive towers: Small Western, New (Big) Western, Karmalyukova, Papal, Kolpak (Cap), Lyashskaya, Dnevnaya (Day), Rozhanka, Commandant, New Eastern and Tenchinskaya towers. The oldest tower of Kamianets- Podilskyi Castle is Dnevnaya or Day Tower.
Changing military technologies forced residents of Kamianets- Podilskyi to increase military fortifications of their citadel. They added earthen ramparts around walls of the stronghold. Nevertheless the Ottoman Turks managed to capture citadel in 1672. An exhibition in a museum is dedicated this heroic defence under leadership of M. Pototsky.
Kamianets Podilskyi citadel was turned into a prison in the late 18th century after it lost its military significance. It served in this role to the early 20th century. Among its inmates the most famous is Ustim Karmalyuk. This Ukrainian peasant joined Russian army during Patriotic war of 1812 against Napoleon Bonaparte and French Army. However didn't last too long there and eventually deserted Imperial army. He became famous as an Ukrainian version of Robin Hood. He was briefly held as a prisoner in Papal Tower. After his release Ustim Karmalyuk started robbing merchants again and eventually was killed by law enforcement agents at the age of 48.
| Russian Gate (Kamianets- Podilskyi)
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Polish Gate (Kamianets- Podilskyi)
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In 1362, Kamenetz was captured by the Lithuanian
prince Algerd, with the aim of gaining influence on Russian lands.
Realizing the advantages of the geographical position of the city,
the Lithuanians begin to fortify the city with stone fortifications.
Since that time, three communities have been entrenched in the city,
Russian by right of inheritance, Lithuanian-Polish by law of force
and Armenian by right of city construction. Each enjoyed its own
culture and the right to self-government. And in 1374, the
Lithuanian princes Koriatovichi, the founders of the fortress and
the nephews of Olgerd, proclaim Magdeburg law, the city becomes the
center of Podolia and is exempted from taxes. Mentioned in the
chronicle "List of Russian cities far and near" (end of the XIV
century). Since 1393, the city several times passed from the hands
of the Lithuanians to the Poles and vice versa. In 1463,
Kamenetz-Podolsky was proclaimed the Royal City of Poland. In the
years 1434-1793 was the center of Podolsk Voivodeship as part of the
Lesser Poland province.
Old Kamenetz-Podolsky is a fortified city, standing on a stone
plateau with high ledges in the loop of the river, a bridge guarded
by a huge defensive outer citadel with cliffs, which at the same
time forms a single defensive complex with the city, which has
terrified the invaders for more than 500 years. The city had the
most important geopolitical significance on the border of Christian
and Muslim cultures, played a significant role as a shield in saving
Europe from the Mongol-Tatar raids. Throughout its history, not a
single army has been able to take a fortress in battle; power was
changed only with the help of banal deception and military sabotage.
In the Middle Ages, Kamenetz was a major craft and trade center; in
its development, it was on a par with such cities as Lviv and Kiev.
In 1672, Podillia was occupied, and the city was subjected to a long
siege and, as a result of the signing of the Buchach Peace, was
surrendered to the 300,000th Turkish army of the Ottoman Empire and
the Cossacks of the hetman Doroshenko, who fought against the
Commonwealth, joined them. The churches and churches in the city
were converted to mosques, the boys were selected as Janissaries,
and civilians were partly destroyed, partly captured. Such a union
aroused the indignation of the people and the discontent of the
Cossacks of the left-bank Ukraine.
At that time, the Turks in Kamenetz improved the bridge connecting
the city with the citadel, the arch supports of stone type were
expanded and completely laid, the bridge took the form of an isthmus
between the plateaus. It is still operating and is called the
Turkish Bridge.
In 1682, Poland violated the peace treaty by stepping in for
Austria. This coalition against the Ottoman Empire was gradually
joined by Venice and Russia. The following years, the Ottoman army
suffered defeats on various fronts. Having conquered the lands of
Moldavia, the Poles were able to cut off Kamenetz-Podolsky from the
Ottoman territories, and in 1699, after the signing of the
Karlovitsky Peace, the city was hastily returned to the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In 1793, after the second division of the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth, together with the entire right-bank Ukraine, it was
transferred to the Russian Empire (in 1795-1797 - the center of
Podolsk governorship, in 1797-1917 - in the Podolsk province).
In 1918-1921, it was the main center for the formation of troops and
the deployment of the military leadership of the Ukrainian People’s
Republic, the last stronghold of Simon Petlyura’s troops, until the
Bolsheviks occupied the city.
Under Soviet rule, it was a large industrial city. In 1937-1941 the
regional center (Kamenetz-Podolsk region). In March 1941, the
administrative center of the region was moved to Proskurov, but the
region was called Kamenetz-Podolskaya until 1954. From June 1941 to
March 1944 was temporarily occupied by German troops. In 1954,
Proskurov was renamed Khmelnitsky, and the Kamenetz-Podolsk region -
in Khmelnitsky. Since 1991 - as part of independent Ukraine.
There is a national university, founded in 1918. The main attraction
is the Old Castle of Kamyanets-Podilsky.