Church in Komańcza

A church rebuilt after a fire

The Orthodox Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Komańcza stands on a hill beside the road to Daliowa and Dukla. Today’s building is a faithful reconstruction of the wooden church built in 1800–1805 and destroyed by fire on 13 September 2006. It was rebuilt in 2006–2010 in its East Lemko character and belongs to the Podkarpackie Wooden Architecture Route.

Architecture and history

The three-part building has weatherboarded walls, domes with onion-shaped turrets and a sacristy topped by a fourth dome. The fire destroyed the church and furnishings, but the 1834 bell tower survived. The reconstruction used fir timber donated by the State Forests. Metropolitan Sawa consecrated the rebuilt church in 2010.

Nearby sights

See the church, bell tower and hilltop setting. Komańcza is a good base for trips to Turzańsk, Rzepedź, Smolnik and Radoszyce. In the village, visit the Nazareth convent and its memorial room connected with Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński’s internment. The area suits visitors interested in wooden architecture and Lemko history.

Visiting and access

Address: Komańcza 216, 38-543 Komańcza. For the summer season, the Wooden Architecture Route lists visits daily 10:00 am–5:00 pm except Mondays; outside the season, interior access requires advance contact at +48 668 222 749. Hours may change with the season and services, so check the organiser’s notice before travelling. Admission is free. Parking is available near the church; remain quiet and dress respectfully.