St. Alexandra's Church in Stanisławów

The Church of St. Alexandra in Stanisławowo is an Orthodox parish church belonging to the Warsaw deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its history dates back to 1844–1846, when the first church was built for Orthodox settlers from the Pskov Governorate, brought in at the initiative of the Russian authorities. Designed by Jakub Gay, the structure was brick-built, featured five domes, and incorporated neo-Romanesque elements. The church functioned until 1915, when the population was evacuated, and the building suffered significant damage during World War I. A new, smaller church was constructed in the interwar period using some materials from the dismantled former building, designed by Bogdan Lewandowski. During World War II, the temple was again damaged, and after the war, the number of parishioners drastically declined due to the departure of the Orthodox population to the USSR. In the 1990s, the church was restored to liturgical use, and in 2016, a renovation was completed, during which architectural elements from the first church were reinstated. Architecturally, the church now features one main dome and smaller side domes added during the renovation. The interior includes a single-row iconostasis from the Modlin Cathedral and valuable icons, some of which date back to the 19th century. Interestingly, in 2017, the icon of the Resurrection of Christ was found to exude fragrant oil, attracting the attention of the faithful and the media. The church in Stanisławowo is the only rural Orthodox temple in Mazovia, underscoring its importance to the local community and the cultural heritage of the region.