Ostroh
Encyclopedia
Ostroh is a historic city located in Rivne Oblast
(province
) of western Ukraine
, located on the Horyn River
. Ostroh is the administrative center of the Ostroh Raion
(district
) and is itself designated as a special administrative subordination within the oblast. The current estimated population is around 14,801 (as of 2001).
The Hypatian Codex
first mentions Ostroh in 1100, as a fortress of the Volhynia
n princes. Since the 14th century, it was the seat of the powerful Ostrogski
princely family, who developed their town into a great centre of learning and commerce. Upon the family's extinction in the 17th century, Ostroh passed to the princes Lubomirski
. In the 16th century, first East Slavic books, notably the Ostrog Bible
, were printed there. The town formerly had a sizable Jewish community, whose rabbi
s included Kalonymus Haberkasten
, Samuel Edels, and Solomon Luria
. A Jewish community existed in Ostroh already in the first half of the 15th century and perhaps earlier. At the beginning of WWII two thirds of the town's population of ca. 15,000 was Jewish. In Breslov Chassidus, this town has some significance, as it was the place where Rebbe Nachman's magnum opus, "Likutey Moharan" (Anthology of Our Teacher, Rebbe Nachman) was first printed.
Landmarks include the Ostroh Castle
on the Red Hill, with the Epiphany church (built in the fifteenth century) and several towers. To the north-west from the castle stand two sixteenth-century towers. The suburb of Medzhirichi (or Międzyrzec) contains the Trinity abbey, with a fifteenth-century cathedral and other old structures.
The Ostroh Academy
was established in Ostroh in 1576 as the first higher educational institution in Ukraine.
Rivne Oblast
Rivne Oblast is an oblast of Ukraine. Its administrative center is Rivne. The area of the region is 20,100 km²; its population is 1.2 million...
(province
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
) of western 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...
, located on the Horyn River
Horyn River
The Horyn or Haryn is a river, a tributary of the Pripyat River, which flows through Ukraine and Belarus. It has a length of 659 km, a drainage basin of 22,700 km², a maximum width of 80 m, and a maximum depth of 16 meters...
. Ostroh is the administrative center of the Ostroh Raion
Ostroh Raion
Ostroh Raion is a raion in Rivne Oblast in western Ukraine. Its administrative center is Ostroh. It has a population of 31 000.-External links:*...
(district
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
) and is itself designated as a special administrative subordination within the oblast. The current estimated population is around 14,801 (as of 2001).
History
Hypatian Codex
The Hypatian Codex is a compendium of three chronicles: the Primary Chronicle, Kiev Chronicle, and Galician-Volhynian Chronicle. It is the most important source of historical data for southern Rus'...
first mentions Ostroh in 1100, as a fortress of the 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...
n princes. Since the 14th century, it was the seat of the powerful Ostrogski
Ostrogski
Ostrogski was one of the greatest Ruthenian princely families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.They were most likely of Rurikid stock and descended from Sviatopolk II of Kiev. Some scholars however claim their descent from Galicia-Volhynia line of Rurikid dynasty. Vasilko Romanovich Prince of...
princely family, who developed their town into a great centre of learning and commerce. Upon the family's extinction in the 17th century, Ostroh passed to the princes Lubomirski
Lubomirski
Lubomirski family is a Polish szlachta family. The family used the "Szreniawa without a cross" arms and their motto was: Nil conscire sibi ....
. In the 16th century, first East Slavic books, notably the Ostrog Bible
Ostrog Bible
The Ostrog Bible was one of the earliest East Slavic translations of the Bible and the first complete printed edition of the Bible in Old Church Slavonic, published in Ostroh, in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth , by the printer Ivan Fyodorov in 1581 with the assistance of the Ruthenian Prince...
, were printed there. The town formerly had a sizable Jewish community, whose rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s included Kalonymus Haberkasten
Kalonymus Haberkasten
Kalonymus Haberkasten was a rabbi and Talmudist in sixteenth century Poland. He is well known as the rosh yeshiva of many great rabbis including Rabbi Solomon Luria, who married his daughter Lipka....
, Samuel Edels, and Solomon Luria
Solomon Luria
Solomon Luria was one of the great Ashkenazic poskim and teachers of his time. He is known for his work of Halakha, Yam Shel Shlomo, and his Talmudic commentary Chochmat Shlomo...
. A Jewish community existed in Ostroh already in the first half of the 15th century and perhaps earlier. At the beginning of WWII two thirds of the town's population of ca. 15,000 was Jewish. In Breslov Chassidus, this town has some significance, as it was the place where Rebbe Nachman's magnum opus, "Likutey Moharan" (Anthology of Our Teacher, Rebbe Nachman) was first printed.
Landmarks include the Ostroh Castle
Ostroh Castle
The Ostroh Castle is a castle in the city of Ostroh, located in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine. The city of Ostroh was first mentioned in the 12th century. For almost three centuries, the castle it was a residence of the Ostrogski princely family which gave Ukraine famous military leaders,...
on the Red Hill, with the Epiphany church (built in the fifteenth century) and several towers. To the north-west from the castle stand two sixteenth-century towers. The suburb of Medzhirichi (or Międzyrzec) contains the Trinity abbey, with a fifteenth-century cathedral and other old structures.
The Ostroh Academy
Ostroh Academy
National University "Ostroh Academy" is a Ukrainian self-governed research university that was re-opened in 1994 by the Presidential Decree of April 12, 1994...
was established in Ostroh in 1576 as the first higher educational institution in Ukraine.
See also
- Ostrogski familyOstrogskiOstrogski was one of the greatest Ruthenian princely families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.They were most likely of Rurikid stock and descended from Sviatopolk II of Kiev. Some scholars however claim their descent from Galicia-Volhynia line of Rurikid dynasty. Vasilko Romanovich Prince of...
- Ivan Fyodorov (printer)Ivan Fyodorov (printer)Ivan Fyodorov or Fedorovič , was one of the fathers of Eastern Slavonic printing...
- Ostroh CastleOstroh CastleThe Ostroh Castle is a castle in the city of Ostroh, located in the Rivne Oblast of western Ukraine. The city of Ostroh was first mentioned in the 12th century. For almost three centuries, the castle it was a residence of the Ostrogski princely family which gave Ukraine famous military leaders,...
- Ostroh AcademyOstroh AcademyNational University "Ostroh Academy" is a Ukrainian self-governed research university that was re-opened in 1994 by the Presidential Decree of April 12, 1994...