The Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stanislaus the Bishop and Martyr in Narew

The Parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Stanislaus the Bishop and Martyr in Narew, which belongs to the Hajnówka Deanery in the Drohiczyn Diocese, was founded in 1528 on the initiative of King Sigismund the Old and Queen Bona. The current parish church, built between 1738 and 1748, likely commissioned by Jan Klemens Branicki, is considered one of the most valuable wooden architectural monuments in the Podlasie region. Among the historical treasures that have survived to this day, two 16th-century paintings depicting scenes of the Crucifixion and a 17th-century icon of the Mother of God Hodigitria stand out. In addition to the parish church, there is also a small chapel in the old cemetery in Narew. In terms of small sacral architecture, a wooden rectory and a parish house stand near the church; the latter was restored after 1985 by Canon Edmund Tararuj. The parish covers a vast area inhabited by approximately 8,000 people, of whom only 739 are Catholics, residing mainly in Narew and the village of Ancuty. The parish serves as an important cultural center for the inhabitants of 76 villages across five municipalities. The church and its surroundings not only function as a place of religious worship but also stand as a symbol of local identity and tradition. Its rich history and unique architecture attract both the faithful and tourists interested in the cultural heritage of the region.