Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kleszczele

The Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos Church in Kleszczele is an Orthodox parish church located at 1 Maja Street in the center of the town. It belongs to the Kleszczele Deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The history of the church dates back to the beginnings of Kleszczele, and in the 17th century, Orthodox churches in the area were transformed into Uniate ones. After being part of the Union, in 1839, they returned to Orthodox status. Due to the growing number of Orthodox residents, in the 1870s, a new brick church dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God was built. Its construction was funded by the Russian state treasury and local parishioners. The church was consecrated on October 22, 1877, and the St. Nicholas Church became its branch. After the establishment of the Grodno Eparchy, the parish in Kleszczele became part of its structures. At the beginning of the 20th century, the number of faithful was 3,121, and in 1907, Bishop Michael visited the church. During the interwar period, the church retained its status as a state parish. During World War II, in July 1944, it was burned down and later rebuilt, with icons from the destroyed church in Szereszów used for its furnishings. In 1966, ecumenical services were held, which was a rare occurrence in the region. In 2009, the church underwent a thorough renovation. The interior of the church is adorned with an icon of St. Nicholas, considered miraculous, which according to oral tradition dates back to the 15th century, although studies indicate it originates from the first half of the 16th century. The church was entered into the register of monuments on March 11, 1988. Its history and architecture reflect the turbulent fate of the region, as well as its connections with the local Orthodox and Uniate communities.