Zorokiv
Encyclopedia
Zorokiv is a village in the Cherniakhiv region of Zhytomyr Oblast
in west-central Ukraine
, approximately 16 km. from the provincial capital of Zhytomir. One of the oldest settlements in the region, it is known for the St. Basil the Great
Church which was built in 1772. The current population of Zorokiv is approximately 310. Zorokiv was the birthplace of Ukrainian writer and journalist Julian Movchan
and ancestral home of his family.
and was subsequently, in the 10th century, incorporated into Kievan Rus. Agricultural settlements are mentioned as early as the 11th century.
Zorokiv's name is rooted in the word "Zro", meaning to "look", and referred to viewing the thick forest that once surrounded the village. It was built near the small creek named the Zorka.
St. Basil the Great Cathedral was built in 1772 with funds gathered from the parishioners themselves. The belltower was added in 1869. The Church served as the village's cultural center. Zorokiv had a village school from at least 1870. Its first teacher was the village priest, father Ilian Panteleimonovich Kulchytsky.
Soviet rule came to Zorokiv for the first time in 1918. The village Soviet was established in 1921. In August 1941 Zorokiv was occupied by German forces, and many of its villagers were active in the partisan movement. One of them, Sophia Macymivna Movchan, was awarded the Order of the Red Star
for her service. Overall, 118 of Zorokiv's inhabitants died in the fight against Nazi Germany.
Zhytomyr Oblast
Zhytomyr Oblast is an oblast of northern Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Zhytomyr.-History:The oblast was created as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic on September 22, 1937....
in west-central Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, approximately 16 km. from the provincial capital of Zhytomir. One of the oldest settlements in the region, it is known for the St. Basil the Great
Basil of Caesarea
Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, was the bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor . He was an influential 4th century Christian theologian...
Church which was built in 1772. The current population of Zorokiv is approximately 310. Zorokiv was the birthplace of Ukrainian writer and journalist Julian Movchan
Julian Movchan
Julian Gregorovich Movchan was a Ukrainian-American journalist, writer and doctor.-Biography:Born in the village of Zorokiv to a family of well-to-do peasants, in the Cherniakhiv region of what is now the Zhytomyr Oblast, his works first appeared in the local oblast newspaper Radianska Volyn when...
and ancestral home of his family.
History
In ancient times, the area near Zorokiv was inhabited by the forest-dwelling east Slavic tribe DrevlyansDrevlyans
The Drevlians were a tribe of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 10th century, which inhabited the territories of Polesia, Right-bank Ukraine west of Polans, down the stream of the rivers Teteriv, Uzh, Ubort, and Stviga...
and was subsequently, in the 10th century, incorporated into Kievan Rus. Agricultural settlements are mentioned as early as the 11th century.
Zorokiv's name is rooted in the word "Zro", meaning to "look", and referred to viewing the thick forest that once surrounded the village. It was built near the small creek named the Zorka.
St. Basil the Great Cathedral was built in 1772 with funds gathered from the parishioners themselves. The belltower was added in 1869. The Church served as the village's cultural center. Zorokiv had a village school from at least 1870. Its first teacher was the village priest, father Ilian Panteleimonovich Kulchytsky.
Soviet rule came to Zorokiv for the first time in 1918. The village Soviet was established in 1921. In August 1941 Zorokiv was occupied by German forces, and many of its villagers were active in the partisan movement. One of them, Sophia Macymivna Movchan, was awarded the Order of the Red Star
Order of the Red Star
Established on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of the...
for her service. Overall, 118 of Zorokiv's inhabitants died in the fight against Nazi Germany.