Kunkowa

Introduction

The parish church of St. Luke Apostle in Kunkowa belongs to the Gorlice dean of Przemysl – Gorlice Orthodox diocese.

This is a temple of rare beauty, picturesquely located on a hill in the valley of the river Przyslup, majestically towering over the village. This building is typical of the Western-Lemko sacred style.

History

The church was built in 1868. The time of its construction is evidenced by the date written above the gate of the porch. Part of its ancient decoration is much older, for example, the icon of St. Nicholaus, or the icon of St. Luke, and comes from the previous temple of the 17th century, and maybe more early. ccording to local history, Kunkowa began its existence in 1391, but the first written mention of this village dates back to 1512.

In 1904 – 1905, it was created a rich painting in the church, the author of which is Jan Jakubowski – Sas. lso in the church the icononostasis in the style of neo-Baroque was placed , the same author, instead of the beautiful of the previous temple. It is now on the walls of the nave.

In 1947, during the tragic “Wisla” action, the indigenous people of Kunkowa were forcibly resettled on “returned lands”. Thus, the liturgical life was frozen.

After 1956, the lemks began to return to the village and attempts to revive the Orthodox parish began. Delegations of local residents visited both the Orthodox Metropolitan in Warsaw and representatives of the secular authorities. Finally, in the late 50s of the last century, the church in Kunkowa was revived by prayer.

In 1987, the church was included in the register of monuments of architecture.

Architecture

The orthodox church of St. Luke Apostle in Kunkowa is traditionally oriented and consists of three correct parts. The sacristy was completed to the northern part of the altar, slightly disrupting the symmetry of the entire building.

It is wooden building of log structure with walls lined with wooden panels on the outside.

The roofs are covered with tin sheets. Their lower parts have step-by-step kinks. As well as the tent of the tower, and the roofs of the nave and the althar are finished with bulbous turrets with deaf drums, which are placed iron, wrought crosses.

The logs, like the triple division of the temple, are clearly visible inside. The altar is hidden behind the iconostasis. There are benches in the wide nave. Above the narrow part of the nave are choirs.

Special attention

• icons of St. Luke and St. Nicholaus, dating back to 1666, as well as earlier icons of the 17th century, produced in Muszyna’s workshops, that is, relating to the period before the union, when the temple was part of the Przemysl Orthodox diocese;
• Baroque details dating back to the 18th century, which are an interesting example of the penetration of Western culture in the traditions of Eastern Christianity:
  – altar with canopy
  – the side altar in the nave with the fresco of the Crucifixion
  – placed on the walls of the ancient iconostasis in the Baroque style;
• the rich polychromy of the early 20th century, representing the Holy Trinity and the Covering Veil of the Theotokos.