Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Hrubieszów

The Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Hrubieszów is an important Orthodox temple, located in the city center at 3 Maja Street. It belongs to the Zamość deanery of the Lublin-Chełm diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its history dates back to the 16th century, when the first church was built in the 1520s. After the Union of Brest in 1596, the church came under the ownership of the Uniates. The current building, constructed between 1867 and 1875 on the initiative of the incoming Russian population, is an example of the Byzantine-Russian style. It stands out for its monumentality and thirteen domes, making it the only church of its kind in Poland and one of only two in the world. After the "bieżeństwo" (mass exodus during WWI), the church was closed but resumed its activities in 1921. Despite various difficulties, including post-World War II repressions against Orthodox Ukrainians, it has survived to this day. Architecturally, the church is designed in the style of a Greek cross, featuring rich ornamentation and fourteen domes, including the thirteenth on the bell tower. The interior is adorned with a two-row iconostasis by the iconographer Siłajev, as well as older icons from the 18th and 19th centuries. Interestingly, the church bells were lost during World War II, and new ones were not installed until 2005. The church has been entered into the register of historical monuments, highlighting its cultural significance in the region.