Carpathian Mts.




Yarusia and Nechai

  Today we had a nice spring-like day, +6C temp, no wind but also very little sun. Being that the weather was nice we decided to take a drive into the Carpathians mountains.  We drove south and east about 40kms. to Bukovetz where we crossed a mountain ridge at an elevation of 862 meters or 2600 feet and continuing on down to Krevorivne and Verxhovyna.

Along the way we decided to visit with a well known 'molfar' or hutsul sorcerer by the name of Michaylo Nechai who lives in the village of  Verxhney Yaseniv.  He is a well known practitioner of white or good magic and claims to be able to control the weather, heal the sick as well as remove spells cast by evil people.  There remains a strong belief among Ukrainians in various manifestations of evil such as the evil eye and spells cast for some form of gain such as money or property. People will search out a practitioner of evil, who for a sum of money, is prepared to casts a spell on a rival or enemy so as to eliminate them either by illness or other means. Nechai is one who can counter the evil these people do.

On the way home we stopped in Kosiv where we did some shopping and sightseeing. Kosiv is a large town of about 8,500 people and is the crafts and cultural centre of Hutsulschena. Every Saturday morning the renok or bazar is full of a wide variety of wood carvings, woolen garments and ceramic souvenirs.