Church of the Holy Cross in Węgorzewo

The Church of the Holy Cross in Węgorzewo, located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, is a Greek Catholic temple that originally served as an Evangelical church within the "Bethesda" care institutions, founded in 1880 by Countess Anna von Lehndorf. The main pastor was Rev. Herman Braun, and in 1912, an independent Evangelical parish was established. Its first parish priest, Rev. Erich Braun, contributed to the development and furnishing of the church, including the installation of an organ and two bells. In 1930, construction began on a new church, which was consecrated in 1933. The building, designed in a Neo-Gothic architectural style and made of red brick, features a massive bell tower and a two-level choir. Its interior is adorned with a modern iconostasis, sculptures, and stained-glass windows depicting the Evangelists. After World War II, the church was taken over by the communist authorities and handed over to the Roman Catholic parish, while the Evangelicals were allocated a smaller chapel. In 1983, the church began serving the Greek Catholic community, who had previously held services in the Roman Catholic church. In the 1990s, the interior was adapted to meet the needs of the Greek Catholic liturgy, resulting in the installation of an iconostasis and the creation of new icons. In 2007, the church was enriched with icons made by students of the Lviv National Academy of Arts. New chandeliers were purchased in 2009, and in 2010, a funeral chapel was consecrated, incorporating elements from the original church. An interesting fact is that during the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the Greek Catholic parish, a cross commemorating Rev. Erich Braun was unveiled. The church, which retains its original Evangelical furnishings, continues to play an important role in the local religious community.