Church of the Protection of the Theotokos, Sutkivci

The Church of the Protection of the Theotokos features thick stone walls measuring 1.5 meters and contains arrow slits beneath its roof for defensive purposes.

Built in 1467 as a defensive structure, the church underwent reconstruction in 1476 when builders added a two-tier wooden bell tower and Gothic architectural elements.

The interior walls of the first floor contain 16th-century frescoes, while a stone tombstone of Ivan Sutkivsky marks the end of the Sutkivsky noble family.

Located on steep slopes near the Ushytsia River, the church stands 7 kilometers from the Khmelnytskyi-Kamianets-Podilskyi highway, offering strategic views of surrounding territories.

This medieval structure represents the only surviving tetraconchal defensive church in the world, combining the functions of a prayer space and fortified tower.

Location: Sutkivtsi

GPS coordinates: 49.17682,26.93212

Latest update: March 3, 2025 16:07