Saints Cosmas and Damian Church in Skwirtne

Saints Cosmas and Damian Church in Skwirtne is a wooden structure with three rectangular sections, each covered by a separate shingled roof following traditional western Lemko design. The building uses Eastern Orthodox construction methods typical of the region.

This church was built in 1837 as a Greek Catholic Lemko place of worship and received figural and ornamental painted decorations during major renovations around 1900. The restoration marked an important moment in how the community invested in their religious space.

The interior displays painted columns and ceiling frescoes of the Holy Trinity that reflect Eastern Orthodox religious art. These decorative choices show how the Lemko community expressed its faith through visual elements.

The structure divides into three areas: the presbytery, the nave, and the babiniec, a designated section for female worshippers that reflects the church's traditional layout. Walking through these spaces helps you grasp how religious life was organized in this community.

Following the 1947 population resettlement, this building changed its religious function and became a Roman Catholic place of worship administered by Uście Gorlickie parish. This shift reflects the dramatic demographic upheaval that swept through the region after World War II.

Location: Skwirtne

GPS coordinates: 49.49194,21.19108

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:02