Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Skwirtne

The Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Skwirtne is a prime example of a 19th-century Lemko church built in the northwestern style. Constructed in 1837 from wood, it features a log structure with a tripartite layout, consisting of the sanctuary, a wider nave, and a babinets (women’s gallery), each covered by separate roofs. The tower has a post-and-beam structure and encloses the walls of the babinets, while the entire building is covered with wooden shingles. The roofs are tented, topped with polygonal lanterns and decorative crosses. The interior of the church is characterized by rich architectural, ornamental, and figural polychromy, executed around 1900. Particularly noteworthy are the ceiling paintings depicting the Holy Trinity and the Protection of the Mother of God. Following the "Vistula" Operation in 1947, the church was converted into a Roman Catholic church and now serves as a filial church of the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Uście Gorlickie. The interior contains furnishings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including a main altar from the mid-19th century and icons from the early 19th century, which are remnants of the former iconostasis. The church was listed as a historic monument in 1991 and is part of the Małopolska Wooden Architecture Route, highlighting its architectural and cultural significance. Interestingly, despite the change in denomination, many elements of the former liturgy and sacred art have been preserved, captivating both locals and tourists alike.