Photographs of Bili Oslavy
http://www.msnad.if.ua/villages/bili_oslavi/photogallery_bili_oslavi.html
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Your ancestral village is 60 kms away from Ivano-Frankivsk, the regional
capital, and 100 kms away from the center of Europe.
It was home to the famous Ukrainian poetess, Marijka Pidhiryanka.
In 1943, 80 Ukraniian villagers became victims of the war. They are
listed in the Ivano-Frankivska Oblast WW2 Obituary Books, which can
be obtained thru LDS.
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There are several legends regarding the naming of Chorni and Bili Oslavy
(Black and White Glory).
One story dates back to the Mongul-Tartar Onslaught. The villagers valiantly
resisted. Where battles were lost was called Chorni Oslavy and where battles
were won was called Bili Oslavy.
Another tells of a father with two sons, one blond and the other black-haired.
Upon the father's death the sons inherited the land. The property inherited by the
blonde son was called Bili Oslavy and vice versa.
The third story is about the Oslavy River. Salt was brought in by wagon from
Delyatyn. Salt was very valuable at the time. The wagons, when crossing
the river would be attacked by bandits. There was a safe place to cross,
where bandits seldom attacked, called Bili Oslavy and an unsafe place called
Chorni Oslavy.