Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Fastiv

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Fasty is an Orthodox parish church with a rich history dating back to the 16th century, when the locality came under the ownership of the Annunciation Monastery in Supraśl. The first church in Fasty, likely built after 1533, was originally a Uniate church, which was incorporated into the Union in the 17th century. In 1862, the Basilian monks from Supraśl erected a new wooden church, but it was completely destroyed by fire in 1863. In its place, the parishioners built a new brick church, consecrated in 1875, with construction supported by the Russian government and private donors. After World War I, the church became the subject of controversy when a neo-Uniate clergyman attempted to take it over for the Catholic parish, which was met with resistance from the local Orthodox community. The church was returned to Orthodox ownership in 1944 and has since undergone multiple renovations and restorations, including in the 1950s and 1990s. The building was entered into the register of monuments in 1979 and 1983. The church features a typical Orthodox architectural design, with a bell tower and richly decorated interior, reflecting the tradition and culture of the region. Interestingly, after the fire in 1863, parishioners used a temporary church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel for several years, and during the interwar period, a clergyman attempted to impose denominational changes, which were not accepted by the Orthodox residents of Fasty. The history of the church is not only a story of architecture but also a testament to the social and religious transformations that have taken place in the region over the centuries.