A FORGOTTEN SHRINE IN THE MYKOLAIV REGION
(THE CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL AS A SYMBOL OF THE GERMAN-UKRAINIAN HERITAGE)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54662/veresen.4.2025.11Keywords:
church architecture, German-Ukrainian heritage, museum lessons, spirituality, the Church of Saints Peter and PaulAbstract
The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Stepove (formerly Karlsruhe, the Mykolaiv region) is an exemplar of German colonial architecture in southern Ukraine, despite its remarkable nature being largely overlooked. Constructed between 1881 and 1885 under the design of architect Viktor Korf and financed by the local German community, the three-nave basilica functioned not only as a religious space but also as a cultural and social centre. The architectural style of the church combines neo-Gothic features with local colonial traditions, and surviving wall paintings and a preserved ceiling fresco depicting the Lamb of God serve to emphasise the building's artistic value. Despite the considerable damage sustained during wartime and the subsequent attempts to either repurpose or demolish the building, the church has displayed a remarkable degree of resilience, retaining both its structural integrity and its symbolic meaning. Archival evidence and oral testimonies from Stepove residents reveal the significance of the site for successive generations of descendants, who sought to restore the building and commemorate its history. The church thus serves as a physical manifestation of the spiritual and cultural aspirations of German settlers while also serving as tangible evidence of intercultural interaction between Germans and Ukrainians. As an object of heritage, it is imperative that it should be reassessed within the contemporary discourse of historical memory, recognised as a monument of local or even national importance, and that systematic efforts be made for its conservation and educational integration. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is a testament to the shared cultural landscape of Ukraine and Germany, emphasising the imperative of safeguarding such sites as symbols of resilience, identity, and dialogue.
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