Bililivka is a village in the Ruzhyn hromada of the Berdychiv district in Zhytomyr region, located 20 km west of Ruzhyn. According to the 2001 census, it had a population of 2,193, yet the village's history spans nearly a millennium. According to historians' hypotheses, on the site of modern Bililivka there existed the chronicle town of Rostavets, the name of which is likely connected to the Rostavytsia river.
History of the Village
The ancient town was destroyed by the Tatars, and at the end of the 16th century, a settlement began to revive on the site of the old hillfort under the name Bililiv, which is associated with white clay or, according to legend, with white stone houses and churches. Over the centuries, Bililivka belonged to various magnate families, in particular the Khotkevychis, Koretskys, Branytskyis, and Potockis. In the early 17th century, Princess Anna Koretska (née Khotkevych) built a castle here; its remains and defensive ramparts were still visible in the 19th century. The artist and traveler Napoleon Orda sketched the ruins of the Bililivka castle and the Roman Catholic church, which, unfortunately, have not survived to our day.
Architectural Monuments
Today in Bililivka one can see two notable churches:
- St. George's Church — a brick Orthodox church in the classicist style, built in 1826–1832 on the site of an older stone temple. Once it was monastic: the monastery was founded by Princess Anna Koretska, and later it was transferred to the Uniate Basilians. The church has preserved its historical appearance and is an important cultural monument.
- Holy Trinity Church — a wooden church; the Holy Trinity temple at this site was first erected in 1737 to replace an even older one. For a long time, it served as the parish church for local residents and is distinguished by its fine wooden decor.
Holy Trinity Church
Cultural and Religious Heritage
In the early 17th century, a male Orthodox monastery was founded in Bililivka, to which St. George's Church was assigned. In 1633, the monastery passed to the Uniate Basilians, and later returned to the Orthodox. These structures bear witness to the centuries-old spiritual history of the village and its significance for the region.
How to Get There
Not far from Bililivka is the Rostavytsia railway station, the building of which was erected in the early 20th century. From Ruzhyn to the village is about 20 km by road.
Bililivka is not just a village in Zhytomyr region, but a place with a rich history that has journeyed from a chronicle town to a magnate estate and a modern village. Its churches and the memory of the castle make Bililivka interesting for tourists, historians, and everyone interested in Ukrainian cultural heritage. Nearby, it is also worth dropping by Ruzhyn.
Photos by Roman Malenkov, Serhii Shcherbiy.
