Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Choroszcz

The Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Choroszcz is an Orthodox parish church belonging to the Białystok Deanery of the Białystok-Gdańsk Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. It was built in 1878, replacing a previous wooden church. The building is located at 1 Lipowa Street and has a rich history; in 2007, the parish celebrated the 500th anniversary of its establishment and the granting of town rights to Choroszcz, with ceremonies led by Archbishop Jakub. The church was entered into the register of historical monuments in 1987. Architecturally, the structure represents the Russian Neo-Byzantine style, featuring a distinctive bell tower above the intersection of the transept and the nave, surrounded by four smaller turrets symbolizing Jesus Christ and the four Evangelists. Entrance to the church is through a three-story bell tower, and the interior decorations include icons and frescoes depicting biblical scenes and saints. The iconostasis features historic icons, including the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God, and a unique element is the relics of Saint Luke (Voyno-Yasenetsky), which were displayed for veneration in 2018. Interestingly, a similar architectural structure can be found in Japan—the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Hakodate. The church in Choroszcz is not only an important place of religious worship but also a significant element of local history and culture.