Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Sławatycze

The Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Sławatycze is an important Orthodox site, forming part of the Terespol deanery in the Lublin-Chełm diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its history dates back to the end of the 15th century, when the first Orthodox church was established, which converted to Catholicism following the Union of Brest. The current church, built between 1910 and 1912, replaced an 18th-century post-Uniate structure and was funded by Kławdij Paschałow, a Slavophile publicist. During World War I, the church served as a hospital and was reactivated after the war. Architecturally, the church in Sławatycze represents the Byzantine-Russian style. The design by eparchial architect Aleksander Puring incorporated elements characteristic of Moscow's sacred architecture, though in a simplified form. The structure is tripartite and brick-built, featuring multiple domes, with white stone decorations contrasting against the red brick, setting it apart from other churches in the Kingdom of Poland. The interior is adorned with a single-row iconostasis displaying icons of saints and unique 18th-century processional banners, though many of its historical artifacts were lost after World War II. Interestingly, the church survived a demolition attempt in 1938 thanks to the intervention of the local Roman Catholic parish priest. After the war, the building stood abandoned and damaged for many years but was reopened to the faithful in the 1950s. The final restoration of the church was completed between 2014 and 2016, and in 2018, it received the Conservator's Laurel Award. In 2012, during the centennial celebrations, a memorial cross was unveiled in honor of the church's founders. The church not only serves a religious function but also stands as a significant element of local cultural heritage, reflecting the centuries-long presence of Orthodoxy in the region.