The text describes St Bartholomew's Church in Drohobych, which is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in eastern Galicia. The temple was founded by Władysław Jagiełło and took the place of a wooden church, and by Casimir the Great it was converted from an Orthodox church into a church for Drohobych's Catholics. The text goes on to describe the physical appearance of the temple and its history, as well as the fact that the church records are dated to Sigismund the Old (Source: Tygodnik Illustrowany, Warsaw 1879, Series 3, T:8, p. 158, after: Digital Library of the University of Lodz).

The formal name of the church is: Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Cross and St. Bartholomew.

A modernised reading of the text

Parish church in Drohobych.

The Church of St Bartholomew in Drohobych is one of the oldest Roman Catholic houses of God in eastern Galicia and even in the whole country. According to the copy we saw from the original archives - a copy legalised with notarial notices soon after the "revindication" of Galicia by the Austrian government - the cornerstone of this church was laid by Jagiello in 1392, on the occasion of accepting the homage of Red Ruthenia. During the reign of Casimir Jagiellon, the church was already standing more or less in its present state. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the present church has already survived for more than 500 years, and has not undergone any fundamental change during that time; in fact, it still presents itself as a Gothic fortified church from the end of the 14th century.

The Church of St. Bartholomew in Drohobych was also a parish church and collegiate church for centuries. In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, when there were not yet so many monasteries and other churches, it performed, as it were, the duties of a cathedral church for the wider area. Its archives and treasuries once contained very valuable documents, manuscripts, chalices, monstrances and books of foundation records. The traces of this past, although only partially preserved, allow us today to get to know the rich tradition of the Drohobych church. The parish church in Drohobych was attended by the population of the entire city and its wide surroundings: burghers, noblemen, officials and even Armenian and Ruthenian dignitaries. Foundations were often bequeathed to the church, altars were established, and clergy were supported. Thanks to these foundations, there were prebends and a parish school attached to the church, which had its own buildings, land and sources of income. In its heyday, several masses a day were celebrated in the church, and guilds, brotherhoods and the entire town community were involved in the celebrations.

The church also enjoyed numerous privileges, confirmed by kings and bishops. Records of visitations, renovations and extensions have survived, each aimed at keeping the church in good technical and liturgical condition. In the 17th century, the church fell victim to Tartar and Cossack invasions - in 1648, during the Khmelnytsky uprising, it was severely damaged. Nevertheless, thanks to the efforts of the parish priests and the faithful, it was rebuilt and restored.The interior of St Bartholomew's Church in Drohobych was once characterised by great splendour. The altars, pulpit, stalls and confessionals were made in the Baroque style, often gilded and decorated with sculptures. The main altar featured a painting of the church's patron saint, St Bartholomew, attributed to the school of Rubens. Other paintings and decorations came from the 17th and 18th centuries and were of great artistic value. Also preserved are epitaphs and memorial plaques of former founders and pastors, as well as members of wealthy Drohobych families.

Also noteworthy is the church tower, built of brick and stone, which used to have a defensive function. This tower housed bells, the oldest of which was from the 16th century and bore foundation inscriptions. Over time, the church was surrounded by a wall and there was also a parish cemetery, which was not removed until the 19th century.After the partition of Poland, during the Austrian partition, St Bartholomew's Church was still active and served a parish function. The Austrian government initially did not interfere with its activities, but over time began to restrict the rights of the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, the parish of Drohobycz survived the difficulties and its pastors tried to maintain religious life and renovate the church. Several renovations were carried out in the 19th century, including renewing the roof, repairing the walls, replacing some of the furnishings and renewing the polychrome.

During this time, new social and religious initiatives were also established at the parish, such as religious confraternities, youth associations and charitable activities. There was also a parish library and an archive at the church, containing valuable registry books and foundation documents. Although some of the old treasures and archives were lost or taken away, many testimonies to the rich history of this parish have survived to this day. The 20th century brought new challenges. After Poland regained its independence in 1918, the Drohobycz parish was revived. The church was again a place of active religious, patriotic and social life. In the interwar years, further renovation works were carried out, care was taken to preserve the historic character of the temple, and some lost pieces of equipment were restored. During this time, the number of parishioners increased and services were attended by large crowds of worshippers.

Unfortunately, the Second World War and the subsequent Soviet occupation brought an end to much of the work. Some of the clergy were arrested or deported, and the church was devastated and profaned. After the war, when Drohobych became part of the USSR, the church was closed and used for secular purposes. It continued to deteriorate for decades and its interior deteriorated.

It was not until the 1990s, after Ukraine regained its independence, that efforts began to restore the church to its sacred function. Thanks to the efforts of the local community and assistance from Poland, the church was partially restored. Today, it is one of the most important sacred monuments in Ukraine, a testimony to the history and culture of the former Republic and a symbol of the spiritual strength of Drohobych's Polish community.