St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Tomaszów Lubelski

The Church of St. Nicholas in Tomaszów Lubelski is an Orthodox parish church that has played a significant role in the history of the local community since the 16th century. It was established as the first Orthodox church in the region, and its construction in its current form took place between 1885 and 1890 in the Byzantine-Russian style, funded by state resources. The architecture of the church combines elements of late classicism with the official Byzantine-Russian style. The structure features a cross-dome design with five octagonal lanterns and a tripartite composition, ending in a semicircular apse. The interior was originally adorned with frescoes depicting biblical scenes, which unfortunately deteriorated over the course of the 20th century. The church has witnessed many important historical events—it operated continuously during both World Wars until Operation "Vistula," when Orthodox Ukrainians were deported from Tomaszów. After years of neglect, efforts were made to restore the church for worship, with significant renovations taking place in the 1980s and again in the 21st century, supported by various institutions. An interesting fact is the transfer of the Turkowice Icon of the Mother of God to the church in 1983, which became an important place of veneration until 1998, when its feast celebrations were moved to Hrubieszów. The church was entered into the register of historical monuments in 1979, highlighting its importance in the cultural heritage of the region.