Stara Chortoria is a village on the banks of the Sluch River, which is part of the Liubar settlement hromada of Zhytomyr Raion. According to the 2001 census, its population was 1,398. The history of the settlement is ancient: it is first mentioned in the Lithuanian Metrica under the year 1449. Once upon a time, Stara Chortoria and Nova Chortoria formed a single entity, but with the emergence of a new settlement on the opposite bank of the river, they began to be distinguished, and today they are separate populated localities.
Unlike neighboring Nova Chortoria, which has preserved a huge steam mill, the palace of the Orzewski family, a park, and a tomb-temple, Stara Chortoria looks much more modest. In Nova Chortoria, past owners and patrons created grandiose 19th- and 20th-century architectural objects that attract the attention of tourists and historians of the Zhytomyr region.
Trinity Church — the main landmark of Stara Chortoria
The main landmark of the village is the Holy Trinity Church, a masonry temple dating from the early 20th century. It is a striking example of the diocesan style in church architecture, which was widespread in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Such structures are relatively rare; a structurally related example is the Saint George Church in Kamianets-Podilskyi.
It is likely that a wooden church previously stood on this site, as a parish existed here long before the masonry church was built. As early as 1856, a parish school was opened attached to the parish, indicating the active life of the community in the mid-19th century.
Soviet destruction and restoration
During the Soviet period, the church suffered significant destruction: the domes, crosses, and bell tower were destroyed. Only after Ukraine gained independence did partial restoration begin: the bell tower was rebuilt using white silicate brick, which somewhat altered the original appearance of the ensemble. Despite these losses, the church looks well-maintained today, although the plastering of the bell tower still requires attention.
Why Stara Chortoria is interesting
Stara Chortoria is a quiet historical corner of the Zhytomyr region, where the tranquility of the rural landscape along the Sluch is combined with the memory of past centuries. The Trinity Church holds special value as a rare specimen of the diocesan style among the rural temples of the region, and the trip can easily be combined with exploring the sights of neighboring Nova Chortoria.
