St. Zygmunt Parish in Kleszczele

The Parish of St. Sigismund in Kleszczele, belonging to the Hajnówka Deanery in the Drohiczyn Diocese, was established in 1533 at the request of King Sigismund I the Old. The first wooden church, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Sigismund the Martyr, survived until the end of the 17th century, when it was destroyed during the Muscovite invasion in 1659. In 1723, a new wooden church was built in its place, consecrated in 1726 by the Bishop of Lutsk. The parish's history was disrupted in the 19th century when, after the failure of the January Uprising in 1866, the Orthodox Church took over the property and furnishings of the Catholic church, leading to the closure of the parish. It was not until 1906 that the parish was reinstated, and two years later, construction began on a new church, which was consecrated in 1910. Additionally, a wooden bell tower was built in 1923. Architecturally, the parish boasts a rich heritage that reflects the region's history and religious shifts. The parish's history is enriched by various cultural and historical events that impacted the local community, particularly in the context of political repression. An interesting fact is that the initial losses due to invasions and the church's closure became the impetus for constructing a new religious building, which still plays a vital role in the lives of Kleszczele's residents today.