Olyka
Encyclopedia
Olyka is a town in Ukraine
in the region of Volhynia
. It is located east of Lutsk
on the Putilovka river and has approximately 3,800 inhabitants (1992).
as one of the villages belonging to the Kievan Rus'
. It was first mentioned in 1149. In 14th century it was conquered by Grand Duchy of Lithuania
and in 1569, in the effect of the Union of Lublin
became part of Poland
.
In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania the village grew rapidly and became a centre of local magnates, initially the family of Kiška
and after 1533 - the Radziwills
. In second half of the 16th century the town became one of the most important centres of Calvinism
in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
. Its growth was halted by the Chmielnicki Uprising of 1648, during which the town was captured by Cossack
s, plundered and burnt. However, it was soon rebuilt and in 1654 it received city rights. As the main seat of one of the branches of the influential Radziwill family, Olyka became one of the most important political and trade centres of whole Volhynia
.
In the Third Partition of Poland
(1795) the town was annexed by Russia
. In 19th century it continued to play its role as a centre of wood and grain trade. During World War I
in 1915 and 1916 the area was a scene of heavy fighting between the forces of Russia
and Austria-Hungary
. After the Polish-Bolshevik War the town was restored to Poland and the local palace was refurbished. In the effect of the Polish Defensive War
of 1939 and the Nazi-Soviet Alliance, the town was occupied by Soviet Union
. After the Operation Barbarossa
the German occupation started and lasted until 1944. After World War II
the area was annexed by the Soviet Union
and incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR
. Since 1991 it is a part of independent Ukraine
.
miraculously saved the Jewish and non-Jewish citizens of Olyka from the Cossacks' assault of 1651.
Olyka was the cradle of the Olyker Haasidic dynasty that was founded by the famous Rabbi Hersh Leib Landa the first Olyker rebbe. He was followed by his son Rabbi Yoseph Dovid, who was followed by his son Rabbi Mordechai (he authored a book called Gedulas Mordechai), He was followed by his son Rabbi Shimon Shloima (he authored a book called Shekel Hakodesh), he was followed by his son Rabbi Alter Yoseph Dovid who perished together with his whole family during The Holocaust
.
A modest monument commemorates the place of execution of more than 4,000 Jews in Summer 1942.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in the region of Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
. It is located east of Lutsk
Lutsk
Lutsk is a city located by the Styr River in northwestern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Volyn Oblast and the administrative center of the surrounding Lutskyi Raion within the oblast...
on the Putilovka river and has approximately 3,800 inhabitants (1992).
History
The village of Olyka was founded in early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
as one of the villages belonging to the Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus'
Kievan Rus was a medieval polity in Eastern Europe, from the late 9th to the mid 13th century, when it disintegrated under the pressure of the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240....
. It was first mentioned in 1149. In 14th century it was conquered by Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
and in 1569, in the effect of the Union of Lublin
Union of Lublin
The Union of Lublin replaced the personal union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with a real union and an elective monarchy, since Sigismund II Augustus, the last of the Jagiellons, remained childless after three marriages. In addition, the autonomy of Royal Prussia was...
became part of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania the village grew rapidly and became a centre of local magnates, initially the family of Kiška
Kiszka (family)
Kiszka was a szlachta family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of Polish and Czech descent...
and after 1533 - the Radziwills
Radziwill
The Radziwiłł family is an noble family of Lithuanian origin. The descendants of Kristinas Astikas, a close associate of the 14th century Lithuanian ruler Vytautas, were highly prominent for centuries, first in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the...
. In second half of the 16th century the town became one of the most important centres of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. Its growth was halted by the Chmielnicki Uprising of 1648, during which the town was captured by Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
s, plundered and burnt. However, it was soon rebuilt and in 1654 it received city rights. As the main seat of one of the branches of the influential Radziwill family, Olyka became one of the most important political and trade centres of whole Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
.
In the Third Partition of Poland
Third Partition of Poland
The Third Partition of Poland or Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1795 as the third and last of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Background:...
(1795) the town was annexed by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. In 19th century it continued to play its role as a centre of wood and grain trade. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1915 and 1916 the area was a scene of heavy fighting between the forces of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. After the Polish-Bolshevik War the town was restored to Poland and the local palace was refurbished. In the effect of the Polish Defensive War
Invasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
of 1939 and the Nazi-Soviet Alliance, the town was occupied by Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. After the Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
the German occupation started and lasted until 1944. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the area was annexed by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and incorporated into the Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
. Since 1991 it is a part of independent Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Notable landmarks
- Olyka CastleOlyka CastleThe Olyka Castle was the principal seat of the Radziwill princely family in Volhynia from 1564 until the late 18th century. The founder of the castle was Prince Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł who gave Olyka to his youngest son Stanisław...
- late 16th century, expanded in mid-18th century, damaged after 1945, restored after 1990 - The Calvinist Church, converted in 1580 to a Catholic church of the Holy Trinity, and from 1592 dedicated to Apostles Peter and Paul
- Roman Catholic Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity (1635–1645)
- The Lutsk Gate of the city (1630s)
- Orthodox Christian Church of the Presentation in the Temple (1784)
- Orthodox Christian Church of the Holy Trinity (1886)
Jewish presence
Olyka had a large Jewish community that was all destroyed during the Holocaust, but is still an important place of Jewish memory. It was believed that the prayer by rabbi David HaLevi SegalDavid HaLevi Segal
David ha-Levi Segal , also known as the Turei Zahav after the title of his significant halakhic commentary on the Shulchan Aruch, was one of the greatest Polish rabbinical authorities....
miraculously saved the Jewish and non-Jewish citizens of Olyka from the Cossacks' assault of 1651.
Olyka was the cradle of the Olyker Haasidic dynasty that was founded by the famous Rabbi Hersh Leib Landa the first Olyker rebbe. He was followed by his son Rabbi Yoseph Dovid, who was followed by his son Rabbi Mordechai (he authored a book called Gedulas Mordechai), He was followed by his son Rabbi Shimon Shloima (he authored a book called Shekel Hakodesh), he was followed by his son Rabbi Alter Yoseph Dovid who perished together with his whole family during The Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
.
A modest monument commemorates the place of execution of more than 4,000 Jews in Summer 1942.