Ukraine: Kozelets
Continuing to explore Ukraine – here’s a small town that is almost a 1000 years old, Kozelets. It was founded in 11th century as a major trading center in the Kievan Rus, then an equally important town of the Great Dutchy of Lithuania, and finally a big Cossack town during Cossack Hetmania in the 17th century, and finally part of the Russian Empire in the 18-19th centuries (Empress Elizabeth of Russia stayed in Kozelets on her pilgrimage to Kiev). Kozeletz has three spectacular churches – the 1750 Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin executed in elaborate Ukrainian Baroque style, the 1784 Saint Michael’s Church, and the 1864 Ascension Church – all three colorful and packing 11 onion domes between the three of them. Oh, and there’s also a cool SU-100 tank destroyer on the outskirts of Kozelets.
