St. Michael the Archangel Church in Trześcianka

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Trześcianka is an Orthodox parish church belonging to the Narew deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its history dates back to the 16th century, when the first church existed in Trześcianka, which over the years became a Uniate church. In the 18th century, records indicate its destruction, and it was not rebuilt until 1864. The new church was built in a wooden, log structure style, featuring a characteristic vestibule, a single nave, and a rectangular closed presbytery. The interior furnishings included a three-tier iconostasis and two altars. In 2015, a renovation was carried out that sparked controversy due to the installation of gold-imitation domes and the replacement of traditional crosses. Interestingly, although the church was abandoned during World War I, it survived without devastation, and the bells remained in place. In 2019, a case involving a disrespectful film about the church sparked a discussion about respect for religious symbols, and the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship apologized for the controversial material. The church, along with its cemetery, has been entered into the register of historical monuments, highlighting its cultural and historical significance in the region.