ORTHODOX CHURCH COMPLEX IN RADRUŻ

Traversing the trails of the Subcarpathian part of Roztocze, you will come across another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plan your trip and include it in your program to see first-hand a structure that has survived in almost unchanged condition until today. It is the Orthodox church in Radruż, built at the end of the 16th century. This temple is one of the oldest wooden churches that have survived in Poland and one of the major tourist attractions of the Roztocze.

The architectural pearl of the roztocze

 

The Orthodox Church of St.  Paraskeva in Radruż is the oldest wooden church in our country, and the entire church complex fits beautifully into the native Roztocze landscape.

 

This temple, perfect in every way, is the work of a professional carpentry workshop. It was erected at the end of the 16th century.The building has a typical log structure and a triangular-oblong plan, characteristic of Orthodox churches, with three rooms: a gallery, nave and sanctuary.

 

The lofty nave is crowned by a quadrilateral dome reinforced on the inside with a two-tiered system of tie-beams to protect the structure from pulling apart. A mysterious feature of the temple's interior are two circular openings cut into the east and west walls of the nave. It is believed that in addition to their architectural and aesthetic functions, they may also have enhanced the acoustic qualities of the temple, especially during the singing liturgy. What draws attention in the exterior view are the extensive arcatures, or post-supported canopies that encircle the various parts of the church. A similar canopy can be found around the bell tower adjacent to the temple. The building is also characterized by a monumental silhouette with a protruding floor, the so-called "izbica," and a late Gothic pyramidal roof.

Orthodox Church Complex in Radruż, photo: Krystian Kłysewicz

The attractiveness of the church is undoubtedly emphasized by the rich decor of its interior. It is made up of wall polychrome, iconostasis, side altars, as well as other unique design elements. The iconostasis is formed by more than sixty icons, the oldest of which date back to the second half of the 17th century. Interestingly, there was another one here earlier, the icons of which can be found in the collection of the A. Sheptytskyi National Museum in Lviv.

The church, along with the bell tower and a small churchyard cemetery, are surrounded by a 19th-century wall. Along with the two neighboring cemeteries and the museum building, as well as the historic greenery, they form a picturesque Orthodox church complex.

Cemetery, photo: Krystian Kłysewicz

sultana from Radruż

Over the centuries, this unique sacred complex has resisted various historical storms. It survived the period of Tartar invasions and during one of them it was the scene of a remarkable story. It tells the story of a beautiful woman, kidnapped and turned to a sultana and after 27 years returned to her native land, surprisingly to everyone, but most of all her husband, who, convinced of his wife's death, managed to remarry. That woman was the wife of the Radrużany mayor, Maria Dubniewiczowa. In gratitude for her happy return, she was to contribute to the restoration of the temple. A memento of those times is the original tombstone of Katarzyna Dubniewiczowa, the second wife of alderman Elijah, who died in 1682 before the return of the Tatar attack, preserved in the church cemetery.

The unique atmosphere of the historic complex, where time stopped more than 400 years ago, makes it visited by multitudes of tourists wishing to feel the unique atmosphere of the place. The Orthodox Church of St.  Paraskeva in Radruż is also part of the Subcarpathian Route of Wooden Architecture and it is located along the cycling routes of the Roztocze region, such as the Green Velo trail.

Practical information

Opening hours

Spring-summer season (April 1-September 30)

Monday-Sunday: 10.00–18.00

Entrance to the church at the following times:

10.15, 11.00, 12.00, 13.15, 14.15, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00

Autumn-winter season (October 1-March 31)

Monday-Sunday: 9.00–16.00

Entrance to the church at the following times:

9.15, 10.15, 11.00, 12.00, 13.15, 14.15, 15.00

Ticket prices

Regular Ticket: PLN 15

Discounted ticket: PLN 10

Family Ticket: ** PLN 30

Free admission day (all year)*: Monday (summer season), Wednesday (winter season)

Included in the ticket price: a tour in the interior of the St. Orthodox church, the area within the walls around the church and temporary exhibitions in the museum building. Visiting cemeteries outside the walls without a guide

* On the day of free admission, tours are unguided, in the presence of an employee of the church complex. Guided tours are available by prior reservation, but in this case the full tour fee is charged.
** Family tickets are available to a group of visitors consisting of no more than five people, including no more than two adults.

Information and reservations

Reservations for groups, tour information:

tel. 606 357 108

tel. 530 951 917

e-mail: radruz@muzeumkresow.eu

Guided tour: approximately 45 minutes

www.muzeumkresow.eu

Promotional video of the church complex

Film - a tour at the Orthodox church complex

Virtual tour