Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Sokoły

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Sokoły is a Roman Catholic cemetery church located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Its history dates back to 1758, when it was built as a Uniate (Greek Catholic) church in Tykocin by the Basilian monks in the Baroque style. In 1833, thanks to the efforts of Father Paweł Janczewski, the church was relocated to the cemetery in Sokoły and has since served as a Roman Catholic church. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the building underwent several renovations, though the details of these works remain unknown. During this time, the roof covering was changed from tiles to wood shingles, and later to sheet metal. Between 1984 and 1986, a comprehensive renovation was carried out, which included raising the church and replacing its foundations. Unfortunately, during the work on the foundations, the building's structure was compromised, resulting in deformations of the floor in some areas. Architecturally, the church is wooden, built with log construction and clad with siding. It features a single nave and has a rectangular shape, closed off on the northern side with three sides. The eastern part of the building houses a low, rectangular sacristy. The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is an important element of the region's cultural heritage, reflecting centuries of religious tradition, and its history is intertwined with the social and religious transformations of the area.