Attractions and Places To See around Sławatycze - Top 9

The Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Sławatycze is an impressive Orthodox church from the early 20th century, the main spiritual centre of the local community. Built in 1910–1912 according to the design of Alexander Puring, it represents the Byzantine-Russian style with characteristic red walls and white details and five onion-shaped domes. The church survived a turbulent history, including the war period, the Vistula Action and years of devastation, but thanks to the efforts of Orthodox monks from Jabłeczna and the support of parishioners, it was renovated. The church is located on Kodeńska Street, right next to the market square, and today it once again delights with its restored frescoes and icons, being an interesting place to stop during a bicycle trip through Podlasie and Polesie.

Church of the Protection of Our Lady - an Orthodox church in Sławatycze, built in 1910–1912 in place of a former Uniate building from the 18th century.

In Sławatycze, the tradition of "bearded men" is cultivated. On the last three days of the year, young men dress up in costumes consisting of a hat decorated with an intricate high construction of flowers made of tissue paper, a mask, a sheepskin coat and straw "trousers". In such attire, they carol around houses and accost passers-by, especially young women, wishing them well. This custom is promoted by the local Community Center of Culture, which organizes competitions for the most interesting costumes

In 981, the area where the village is located was probably conquered in Lachy and taken over by Włodzimierz, from then until the 14th century it was part of Kievan Rus. In 1018, they were re-incorporated into the Polish State by Bolesław Chrobry as part of the geographic land called Grody Czerwieńskie in historiography. In 1038, the Cherven Castles were again taken over for Ruthenia by Jarosław Mądry. These lands returned to Poland for a short time in the 1170s, when they were annexed by Bolesław the Bold. From the middle of the 13th century, the areas where, among others, Sławatycze was the subject of Polish-Ruthenian, Polish-Lithuanian and Ruthenian-Lithuanian conflicts. These areas returned to Poland once again in 1282, when they were taken over by Prince Leszek the Black. In the second half of the 13th century and the first half of the 14th century, it was part of the Principality of Halicko-Volhynia. As a result of internal conflicts, the aggressive policy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the interest of Polish princes in these lands, the Principality of Halych-Volhynia fell into a deep crisis, which led to its collapse and division between Poland and Lithuania. The area where Sławatycze is located was a flashpoint in the mutual relations between the Crown and the Grand Duchy. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%82awatycze

Inside the temple there is a single-row iconostasis with an arch above the royal gate, on which more round icons are visible. Saints associated with Byzantium and Kievan Rus are depicted in two groups above the iconostasis[3]. Such iconostases were present in all Orthodox churches erected according to the same design by Puring, funded by the Paschal family[21]. Icons of Christ Pantocrator and St. Nicholas from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries [3]. In addition, the church is equipped with an icon of the patrons of the family that founded the facility - Saints Claudius, Elizabeth and Basil https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_Opieki_Matki_Bo%C5%BCej_w_S%C5%82awatyczach

Church of the Protection of the Mother of God - Orthodox parish church in Sławatycze. It belongs to the Terespol deanery of the Lublin-Chełm diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The first Orthodox church in Sławatycze was built at the end of the 15th or at the beginning of the 16th century. After 1596, the parish that administered it accepted the union. The currently functioning Orthodox church was erected in the years 1910-1912 in place of a former Uniate building from the 18th century. The founder of the building was a Slavophile publicist and landowner Klawdij Paschałow. The building was commissioned in September 1912 and since then it has been the main temple of the parish in Sławatycze. In the years 1915–1918, the church served as a field hospital. In the Second Polish Republic, it again became an active Orthodox temple. In 1938, it was on the list of churches to be destroyed as part of the Polonization and Revindication action, but its demolition was stopped by the parish priest of the local Roman Catholic parish. In 1947, when the Orthodox population of Sławatycze was deported as part of the "Wisła" Operation, the church was abandoned and fell into disrepair for the next three years. Irregular services were held there from Easter in 1952. It was restored to permanent liturgical use in 1965 thanks to the efforts of the superior of the monastery of St. Onofrio in Jabłeczna, Archimandrite Eulogius.

The church of unknown foundation was occupied by Protestants in 1556. In 1761, the endowments of the church were renewed by Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, the voivode of Vilnius. In 1887, the Russian government closed the church and canceled the parish; it was not until 1905 that the church was opened and the parish restored. The present brick parish church, built in the years 1913-1919, thanks to the efforts of Fr. Józef Mazurkiewicz. Pseudo-Romanesque style, with features of eclecticism, earlier Baroque elements in the interior design.

Opposite the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God in Sławatycze, there is the parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary, built in the Neo-Romanesque style. Its construction on the site of a wooden temple began in 1913 on the initiative of Fr. Józef Mazurkiewicz according to the design of the district architect Władysław Wołłodko. It lasted 6 years. The call of the object was changed from St. Michael the Archangel. From the west, there is a tower covered with a cupola flanked at the corners by four turrets. Inside, part of the baroque furnishings from the previous church. In the church there is a painting of the Crucifixion with Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John the Evangelist and silver votive offerings are placed on the sides. For centuries, the cult of St. Valentine as the patron saint of sick people. The pastor of the parish is Fr. Miroslaw Krupski.