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Ghosts and graveyards, tales of ancient paranormal visitors and things that go bump in the night are the bread and butter of tourist destinations like England and Wales, but in Ukraine, the long-departed are more selective with their nocturnal visits. Olesko Castle, in particular, harbors a number of spiritual visitors.
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Motivated by preparations for the Euro 2012 football championships and charged with the possibility of cross-border trade with European Union countries, Lviv’s chamber of commerce, founded by decree by Franz Joseph, the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the oldest in Ukraine, and is in the forefront of economic prosperity. Construction, tourism, and recreation are the driving economic forces behind Lviv’s bid to be a major area of international economic activity in Eastern Europe.
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Ukraine, historically home to Christian belief, has another religious story to tell. Dating back to the 15th century, the Crimean Tatars of Turkic descent spread the Muslim faith through the southern region of Ukraine. Affiliated with the Sunni branch of Islam, by the 18th century, over 18 mosques and educational institutions thrived until invasions and wars drove believers from the region.
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Thanksgiving may be only familiar to Americans and Canadians, but Ukrainians, like many others around the world, celebrate the coming of harvest in late summer. Centuries of agrarian tradition drives the spirit of Ukraine, and rituals that give thanks to the natural world are embedded in the culmination of a good season in the fields.
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Architectural traditions thrive from proximity. Ukraine’s tight-fitting geographic region has endured centuries of warring tribes and political oppressors, all of whom have left their architectural mark on a changing country. Remnants of ancient Greek city-states along the Black Sea coast and in the Crimea region, still survives. The Byzantine style of complex mosaic designs in Kiev are also two examples of a rich history.
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History claims God’s warriors in every corner of the world. Annexation and control of another’s land, competition for natural resources, and desire for power define religious beginnings in every faith. Ukraine’s march to a Christian destiny, too, began with a struggle for power between brothers waged in the 10th century.