Wooden churches

The wooden Greek Catholic church of the Protection of the Theotokos, 1938, NKP 

    The original wooden Greek Catholic church, dedicated to the Protection of the Theotokos was built probably in the middle of the 18th century (according to some sources in 1788). During WWI the church was damaged, and little by little dismantled. The present wooden church was built in 1938 and again dedicated to the Protection of the Theotokos. This is probably the only church in Slovakia built with a help from professional architect. At the end of the WWII, in 1944 the whole village was completely destroyed and the church was hardly damaged. It was restored after the war in 1946, with some additional major renovations in the middle of the 60’s.
    The building has three parts, three spaces with three towers. All are finished with decorated metal crosses, the one above the nave being larger. The building sits on a stone foundation and has rustic construction. A point of interest is its two entrances, one from the southern side directly into sanctuary, and one from the western part into the narthex.
    Interior of the church is illuminated thanks to tall windows in the nave and in the sanctuary.
    The Iconostasis could be dated to the beginning or middle of the 19th century. Presumably some of the icons are from the original iconostasis from the first church, probably from the middle of the 18th century. It has architecture of three rows, which is not typical. The second row of feasts is missing and prophets are above and aside the iconostasis. The first main row consists of icons of St. Nicholas, Theotokos (Hodigitria), Christ the Teacher and the Protection of the Theotokos (Pokrov). Instead of deacon doors there are only openings. The royal doors have two leaves, depicting four medallions of the Evangelists. Above the royal doors is the Last (Mystical) Supper. The third, apostolic row contains the icons of individual apostles with an icon of Christ the High Priest in the middle. The top of the iconostasis is finished with a one-barred cross, with the Theotokos and St. John the Theologian on the sides. The iconostasis was renovated in 2002-2005. The church was completely restored in 2003 - 2004.
    Belfry (National cultural monument – NKP) - North of the church is built a wooden belfry of columned construction. The roof follows the form of the tops of the towers of the church. It is covered with tin plate. On the top is a slanted bottom-barred cross. The belfry was not renovated, only painted from outside in 2003.

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