Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jałówka

The Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross in Jałówka is an Orthodox parish church belonging to the Gródek deanery of the Białystok-Gdańsk diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. It was built between 1958 and 1966 according to a design by Professor Aleksander Grygorowicz, on the site of a previous church that had burned down during World War II. The consecration of the church took place on May 16, 1982, while the first service was held on November 14, 1966. The architecture of the church reflects the Byzantine style, featuring a central masonry rotunda structure topped with a glazed dome supported by four pillars. The interior is adorned with polychrome works by Józef Łotowski and Jarosław Wiszenko, and the stained glass in the four main windows was designed by Grygorowicz. The iconostasis was brought from the no-longer-existing St. George's Church in Suwałki. Along with the church, the bell tower, cemetery, and fence were added to the register of historical monuments in 2002. Between 2008 and 2011, external renovations were carried out, including the replacement of the cross on the dome and the roof covering. An interesting fact is that the church property is enclosed by a stone wall designed by Father Eugeniusz Konachowicz, which emphasizes its historical character. The church serves as an important cultural and religious center for the local Orthodox community.