St. Luke the Evangelist Church in Tyniewicze Duże

The Church of St. Luke the Apostle and Evangelist in Tyniewicze Duże is an Orthodox parish church belonging to the Narew Deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Located in the parish cemetery, it has a rich history dating back to around 1750, when the first church was built. This structure burned down during German-Soviet fighting in 1944 and was subsequently rebuilt between 1944 and 1948, becoming a place of worship again after its consecration in 1948. The church was formally established as a parish church on July 5, 1982, and since the 1990s it has been systematically renovated and adapted to modern needs, culminating in its reconsecration by Metropolitan Sawa on October 31, 2011. The church, together with the cemetery, was entered into the register of monuments on September 14, 2001 under number A-25, highlighting its significance as a site of historical and cultural value. Architecturally, the church is wooden and built in a log structure, with a single-nave layout and a square vestibule with a gable roof at the front. The chancel is smaller than the nave and is closed off on three sides, giving the church a unique character. A number of architectural features, such as the octagonal tower above the vestibule with a sheet metal helmet and the single-ridge roof over the nave with a turret topped by an onion dome, give the church a distinctive appearance. The church in Tyniewicze Duże is not only a place of religious worship but also an important element of local culture and history, having witnessed significant events in the region. Interestingly, churches of this type play a key role in the life of the Orthodox community, and the reconstruction process reflects the effort to preserve local traditions and identity.