St. Anne's Church in Stary Kornin

The Church of St. Anne in Stary Kornin is an auxiliary Orthodox church belonging to the parish of St. Michael the Archangel in the Hajnówka deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. It was built in 1773, originally as a Uniate church, and after 1839 it transitioned to the Orthodox faith. The wooden, log-built, oriented structure is single-naved, and its architecture is characterized by simplicity and functionality. It lacks rich ornamentation, which gives it a unique, ascetic charm. Renovations were planned and carried out in 1860, 1892, and 1903, which may indicate the local community's care for this place of worship. Above the main entrance, there is a gable roof supported by two pillars, and the entire church is topped with a sheet metal roof. The chancel is smaller than the nave and is rectangularly enclosed, which is characteristic of this type of structure. The bell tower, located at the front, is crowned with a pyramidal spire, while the turret over the nave features an onion dome, adding a distinctive character to the church. Throughout the year, major services are held here on the feasts of the Nativity of St. Anne (August 7) and the Conception of the Theotokos (December 22), highlighting the importance of this building in the religious life of the local community. The Church of St. Anne was entered into the register of historical monuments on December 31, 1986, which protects its architectural and historical values. An interesting fact is that parishioners refer to it as the "small church," indicating its intimate character and limited usable space compared to the parish church located in the immediate vicinity. This location and its history emphasize the church's role as an important element not only spiritually but also culturally in this region.