Photo Gallery
Over the past 20 years, Ukraine Roots has helped people from around the world connect with their heritage in Ukraine. Our gallery showcases photos taken during these journeys, captured with simple cameras or phones. These images document our clients' experiences as they discover their ancestry, visit ancestral towns and villages, explore Ukraine with knowledgeable guides, hike the stunning Carpathian Mountains, and utilize our transportation services. We will continue to add new photos as we embark on future journeys together.
Gallery Titles:
Photo Gallery 1: Borders of the former Austro-Hungarian province of Galicia
"Galicia was a landscape of despair and decay, and yet it was also a land of profound beauty and cultural richness."
— Joseph Roth, an Austrian-Jewish novelist and journalist who wrote extensively about Galicia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Over 100 years since it divided Austria and Russia, the legacy of Galicia's borders persists in the different accents, religions, and voting preferences on either side. Today, Galicia remains divided between Ukraine and Poland, but there is hope that as Ukraine moves towards EU membership, this internal border will disappear, allowing the region to reunite and heal.
Photo Gallery 2: Churches of Lviv - Part 1
"In Lviv, amidst the labyrinthine streets and the echoes of history, the churches rise like guardians of time. Their spires pierce the sky, adorned with intricate carvings that tell stories of devotion and resilience. Walking through the city, one cannot escape the presence of these sacred monuments, each bearing witness to the layers of faith and cultural exchange that have shaped Lviv into a vibrant mosaic of beliefs and traditions."
— Bruno Schulz, a renowned Polish-Jewish writer and artist, reflecting on Lviv's churches.
Photo Gallery 3: Churches of Lviv - Part 2
"In this city, diverse traditions meet, different cultures encounter each other, various forms of worship come together."
— Pope John Paul II.
Photo Gallery 4: Synagogues of Galicia
"Galician synagogues are "testimonies of a rich cultural heritage, embodying centuries of Jewish life, learning, and resilience amidst the shifting political landscapes of the region."
— Raphael Mahler, historian and writer.
Photo Gallery 5: Jewish places of worship and synagogues of Lwow - Part 1
Jason Francisco, an architect who focuses on historic preservation, said this about the synagogues of Lviv:
"The prewar city [Lviv] was a capital of Jewish civilization in eastern Europe. Dozens of synagogues and other community properties existed in all parts of Lviv..."
Historically, Lviv boasted dozens of synagogues, with a particularly dense concentration on Staroyevreiska Street. Two synagogues were especially significant: the Great City Synagogue and the Golden Rose Synagogue, a Renaissance masterpiece. Sadly, most synagogues were destroyed during World War II.
Photo Gallery 6: Jewish places of worship and synagogues of Lwow - Part 2
"Wherever we are, we carry the memories of our past with us."
— Menachem Begin, the former Prime Minister of Israel, who spent much of his youth in Lviv.
Photo Gallery 7: Jewish Life in Lwow
Lwow pulsed with the rhythm of Jewish life. Cobblestone streets bustled with merchants, synagogues echoed with prayers, and cafes hummed with lively debates on Torah and the latest political news.
Photo Gallery 8: Jewish Lwow in WW2
From the echoes of prayer in Lviv's synagogues to the gunshots at Janowska, a vibrant community was shattered...
Photo Gallery 9: Jewish Cemeteries of Galicia
Dotted across the Galician landscape lie hundreds of Jewish cemeteries, silent testaments to a vibrant community tragically extinguished.