Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Czyże

The Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Czyże is an Orthodox parish church belonging to the Hajnówka Deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Constructed between 1984 and 1993 according to a design by Michał Bałasz, the church replaced an older 19th-century wooden building that had burned down in 1984. The architecture of this brick church is characterized by its large size, making it one of the largest rural Orthodox churches in Poland, with an area of 569 m² and a height of 33.5 m. The solemn consecration of the church took place on August 27, 1993. The interior of the church was embellished by renowned artists, including Jarosław Wiszenko, who executed the polychrome decorations, and Aleksander Łoś and Wiktor Downar, who were responsible for the icons in the iconostasis. The sculptures were crafted by Mikołaj Bakumienko. The interior decoration was completed in 1996, and the church is distinguished by its four characteristic domes. The building not only serves religious functions but is also a significant element of local culture and the identity of the Orthodox community in the region. The surrounding area of the church includes gravestones, reflecting the deep connection of this place with the history and pre-Christian traditions of the local inhabitants. Thanks to its architectural and cultural values, the church in Czyże is an important landmark on the map of Orthodox churches in Poland and attracts the attention of those interested in both sacred architecture and regional history.