Saint John the Baptist church in Orawka

Saint John the Baptist church in Orawka is a rectangular wooden structure built in the 17th century with an elongated nave, a south porch, and a narrower chancel that ends in a semi-hexagon. A proportioned tower marks the entrance to the building.

Construction took place between 1650 and 1659 under Priest Jan Szczechowicz with support from local community donations. The formal consecration occurred in 1715 when Bishop Luke Nataly blessed the completed structure.

The interior walls display paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries showing scenes from Saint John the Baptist's life and moments meaningful to local people. These images reflect what mattered to the community that built and used this space.

The church remains active and hosts regular religious services for the community. Visitors can see a functioning Baroque organ from 1670 that is still used during worship.

The floor contains multiple priest tombstones, with Jan Szczechowicz buried directly in front of the main altar. This placement reflects the deep respect held for the priest who founded the church.

Location: Orawka, Lesser Poland Voivodeship

GPS coordinates: 49.51080,19.71810

Latest update: December 14, 2025 11:00