Tserkva of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wawrzka

The Tserkva of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wawrzka (tserkva: a wooden Eastern-rite church) is a former Orthodox church, built in 1935-1950. Today it is a filial church dedicated to Our Lady of the Scapular, belonging to the parish in Florynka.

Construction and appearance

Construction was begun before the war by the Orthodox inhabitants of the village, in 1935-1939. After 1947 the building was taken over and completed by members of the Roman Catholic Church. It is a wooden building in the West Lemko style, of log construction on a stone foundation, with a square chancel and a post-and-frame tower.

Interior

Inside are three altars: the main one with a painting of Our Lady of the Scapular and two side ones with images of the Mother of God with the Child and of the Holy Family, from 1950. Next to it stands a free-standing bell tower with a bell from 1982.

Nearby

Another wooden tserkva in the region, dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, can be found in Brunary: the Tserkva of St Michael the Archangel in Brunary.

Practical information

• Village: Wawrzka, Nowy Sącz County.
• The church is in use; look for service times and the possibility of visiting on the website of the parish in Florynka: florynka.scj.pl.