St. George's Church in Ryboły

The Church of St. George in Ryboły is an Orthodox cemetery church, part of the Saints Cosmas and Damian parish within the Bielsk Podlaski deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its construction began in the 1870s, and in 1873, materials from the demolition of older churches in Ryboły and Kożany were used. Designed by engineer Łoziński and supervised by Gordiej Aleksiejew, the church was consecrated on October 1, 1874. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, it underwent several renovations, but its condition deteriorated significantly after World War II, having suffered damage during fighting in 1941. Major restoration work was carried out in the 1960s and 1990s. The church was added to the register of historical monuments in 1976. Architecturally, the church is cross-shaped, with gable roofs and an octagonal drum topped by an onion dome, giving it a dynamic silhouette. Slender, semicircular windows enhance the elegance of the structure. An interesting fact is that the entire cost of construction was covered by local Orthodox residents, reflecting their deep commitment and attachment to this place of worship.