Velyki Hai can be explored through two different travel interests: a designated natural area and several religious and cultural points of interest. The “Nashi Hai” Landscape Conservation Area (Nashi Hai) is its protected natural area; the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Christ, Kobzaria Grove and a church dedicated to Blessed Ivan-Yakym Senkiwskyj offer historical perspectives. When choosing where to visit, the question is therefore whether nature or cultural history should shape your stay. This focus can also be a starting point when looking for a holiday apartment.
“Nashi Hai” Landscape Conservation Area
The “Nashi Hai” Landscape Conservation Area (Nashi Hai) was designated on 18 June 2010 and covers 39.9 hectares. It is located in Velyki Hai, is part of Ukraine’s Nature Reserve Fund and is subject to a special regime of protection, conservation and use. The stated area refers to this designated protected area, not to the entire settlement. This gives the natural setting a specific scale: it concerns a particular area with a defined protection status, rather than a general description of the whole place. If landscape conservation is a priority when choosing a destination, Nashi Hai is a clearly identified point of interest in Velyki Hai.
Church history across several periods
The Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Christ adds another historical layer. Its construction is dated to 1910–1920; it was probably consecrated by Volodymyr Hromnytzkyj, a priest from Ternopil. It opened on Christmas Day 1989, and Father Vasyl Kosij celebrated the first service there. The dates mark different events: construction took place between 1910 and 1920, while the opening and first service are dated to Christmas Day 1989; the consecration is attributed to Hromnytzkyj with some uncertainty. Thus, the building’s construction, its probable consecration and its later opening stand as distinct stages. If you are interested in religious history, this chronology offers a specific historical connection to the place.
Ivan-Yakym Senkiwskyj and his connection to the town
Blessed Hieromartyr Ivan-Yakym Senkiwskyj of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was born in Velyki Hai on 2 May 1896. A church dedicated to him was built in his home village. His birthplace and the dedication link a biographical milestone with a local memorial connection. This aspect adds another perspective to the history of the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Christ: Velyki Hai is both Senkiwskyj’s birthplace and the location of a church dedicated to him. For travellers interested in church history and the people associated with it, this offers a distinct way to explore the town.
Kobzaria Grove in the centre
Kobzaria Grove is located in the centre of Velyki Hai. It contains a monument to Taras Shevchenko; the Song Field is also located in the grove. The spatial relationship is a useful distinction: the grove is the shared setting, while the monument and Song Field are the two cultural points of interest located within it. The monument connects the place to Shevchenko, while the Song Field adds another named site to the grove. Together, they form a clearly located cultural point of interest in the centre of Velyki Hai.
Nature or culture as your focus
To decide whether Velyki Hai is right for your trip, you can weigh its different attractions: the landscape conservation area and its designated boundaries, the church’s history across several periods, or the cultural points of interest in the centrally located grove. They show different sides of the town, without any one topic having to represent it for everyone. You can therefore tailor your search for a holiday apartment to your personal interests: landscape conservation, church history or Kobzaria’s cultural connection to the town.
Discover more destinations: Trostianets, Kosiv, Borshchiv, Berezhany, Chortkiv, Kozova, Smykivtsi, Vysoke
See the broader travel guide: Ternopil Oblast.
