Sacred Architecture as a Resource for the Development of Religious Tourism in the Regions of Ukraine

Abstract

The growing interest in religious activities and the lifting of restrictions after the fall of the USSR on the activities of religious communities contributed to the growth of the influence of churches on local communities. Religious communities take care of the social needs of the community, namely the support of youth, the organization of leisure time, and the preservation of cultural heritage. An important direction is the restoration of religious architecture, which is both the heritage of the local community or national property and the center of public life. A valuable cultural heritage is the wooden sacral architecture, spread mainly in rural areas in the west and north of Ukraine. The growth of military and political instability and the invasion of Russia also influenced the increase of the role of religious organizations in local communities. The most active are the organizations of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Greek Catholic, and the Roman Catholic Church, which help local youth, socially vulnerable families, and military personnel. The last decade featured by increasing interest in pilgrimage, forming connections between religious and local communities in Ukraine.