Ukraine's most ancient cross: Landmark possibly linked to Danylo Halytskyi

Where the oldest cross is located

The oldest known stone cross is located near the village of Zymne in Volyn. It dates back to the 13th century and, according to historians, may have been erected by Danylo Halytskyi himself.

The cross was erected on the grave of Klym Khrystynych, who was a retainer of the Ukrainian king Danylo Romanovych, also known as Danylo Halytskyi.

According to the "Galician-Volhynian Chronicle," which describes the military campaign against the Poles in 1213, it is noted that Klym Khrystynych was killed and his cross still stands on the "Dry Road."

"At that time, Klym Khrystynych, one of all his (Danylo's) warriors, was killed, and his cross still stands on Dry Road."

What is known about this cross

Historians say the cross was carved from stone in the Carpathians and then transported to Volyn. At that time, Volyn did not have a large enough monolith to carve such a big cross.

The history of this cross was first studied by scientist Illia Shliapkin, who, at the beginning of the 20th century, discovered a large human burial site nearby with a damaged skull.

The cross is 308 centimeters tall, of which 205 centimeters stand above the ground. Its width is 108 centimeters. There are several indentations on the cross, possibly for an icon or an inscription.

The cross was first mentioned in the "Hypatian Chronicle," which recounts Prince Danylo Halytskyi's victory over Polish Prince Leszek I the White in 1220. According to tradition, such a large cross for the fallen warrior was commissioned by Danylo Halytskyi himself, because the man had shielded him with his body and sacrificed his life.

Scientist Illia Shliapkin near Ukraine's oldest cross (screenshot)

The history of the cross's erection

In 1213, Danylo Romanovych turned to the Novgorod prince Mstyslav Mstyslavovych the Daring for help in driving out invaders, but he refused. In the spring of that same year, Leszek advanced against Prince Danylo in the area of the Buh River.

Against the enemy, Danylo Romanovych sent his commanders: Havrylo Dushylo­vych, Semen Oluievych, Vasylyk Havrylovych, and Klym Khrystynych. In the battle on the dry road near the Luga River, only Klym Khrystynych was killed, but the battle ended with the invaders' defeat. A high mound was then raised over Klym Khrystynych's grave, and a stone cross was installed.

"This is how the chronicler recorded it: 'At that time Klym Khrystynych, one of all his, Danylo's, warriors, was killed, and his cross still stands on Dry Road. And they killed many Poles and chased them to the Vepra River," reads the post by "Volyn Velyka."

According to local historian Yurii Lishchuk, there may be even older crosses in the area, but there is not enough evidence or inscriptions to date them precisely.

The village of Zymne in Volyn

This village in Ukraine is known not only for its ancient cemetery. It is home to the Zymne Sviatohirsk Assumption Monastery.

According to tradition, Prince Volodymyr built a wooden Church of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God on Holy Hill in 1001, and next to it the Trinity Church.

The monastery was first mentioned in the 11th century in the life of St. Theodosius of the Caves. This is where Varlam, one of the first abbots of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, stopped and died. His relics were kept in the monastery and later transferred to Kyiv.

The monastery houses the Miraculous Icon of the Zymne Mother of God, which was brought from Constantinople in 988 by Princess Anna and later gifted to the monastery by Prince Volodymyr.

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Sources: BBC Ukraine, "Ukraina Inkohnita," VSN, Telegraf, post by Iryna Konstankevych (professor at Lesia Ukrainka University), Visnyk, Konkurent. Volyn.