DOI article:
Cieślik-Sygowska, Iwona: Drewniane cerkwie w Świerszczowie na tle architektury greckokatolickiej od XVIII do 2. połowy XIX w. w dawnym powiecie chełmskim
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.27404#0052
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IWONA CIEŚLIK-SYGOWSKA
as Orthodox and from 1921 as Roman-Catholic). Orthodox I was triple with a belfry above the porch. In
the region under investigation this kind of view and mass were commonly employed in the wooden
Orthodox architecture until ca. the 1750s. From the half of the 18th cent, they started to construct triple
Orthodox churches with a detached belfry; this type of church was most often used till ca. 1915. Orthodox
church II in Świerszczów was built in one-dimensional plan. In the same plan, earlier in 1728, the
Orthodox church in Czemiejów was built. The one-dimensional arrangement did not occur in the
traditional Orthodox architecture (except in buildings of a lower rank, eg chapels), similarly to two-
-dimensional plan. They were, however, characteristic of Latin architecture. In the 2nd half of the 18th
century a few two-dimensional Orthodox churches were built (in Pniówno, Depultycze, Czulczyce II and
Świerże III, Rydza). The latter three could have one-dimensional plan. Generally, from the 1750s to the
1850s 36 wooden Orthodox churches were built in the former Cheta district, of which 7 in other than
three-dimensional plans.
We notice some essential changes in the arrangement and furnishings of the churches interior in
relation to traditional Eastern realization. It was Zamość Council (1720) which played a key role here,
because it permitted to unveil the main altar. The result of which was a new arrangement of the east part
of the church. The analysis of the sources proves that in the region under investigation they did not dare
to unveil the altar part completely; Instead of iconostas they employed a wooden partition reaching half
of the bulding's height (Czemiejów) or filling the wheol space (Świerszczów II). The main altar was placed
in front of the partition (or built in it) and on both sides there were side altars; there was no altar behind
the partition. There were icons hanging no the altars whose arrangement was identical with the
arrangement of the lowest row of iconostas (complete, arranged in five rows). In such "iconostas" there
were no czar's or deacon's gates. In the nave there were, alien to Eastern tradition, pulpit, confessional
and benches. Even a rough analysis of the interior of the churches from Włodzimierz diocesis shows that
Latin influences there were considerably weaker than in the part of Cheta diocesis under investigation,
especially as far as the realization of the east part is concerned. And so: iconostas with the czar's and
deacon's gates had only three rows; there was an altar behind it, the arrangement of the main altar did
not differ. One may draw a conclusion that the farther eastward the stronger Latin influence was.
In the former Chełm district Latin influences were particularly strong in the 2nd half of the 18th
century. We can observe this proces up to the 1840s, when the czar's authorities took the first steps in
order to abolish the Greek Catholic rite. The brick architecture was more receptive to new patterns,
because Latin influences were apparent not only in the interior but also in views, contrary to wooden
architecture which used traditional plans and changes in the interior. One has to emphasize that
prominent buildings were erected mainly at the suggestion of bishops who were proponents of the union.
These buldings-Orthodox churches (eg in Chełm) thoroughly dominated Latin forms (not only as far as
interiors go but also views of the Latin cross, ellipses, etc.). Actually, they resemble baroque and rococo
churches.
Translated by Jan Kłos
IWONA CIEŚLIK-SYGOWSKA
as Orthodox and from 1921 as Roman-Catholic). Orthodox I was triple with a belfry above the porch. In
the region under investigation this kind of view and mass were commonly employed in the wooden
Orthodox architecture until ca. the 1750s. From the half of the 18th cent, they started to construct triple
Orthodox churches with a detached belfry; this type of church was most often used till ca. 1915. Orthodox
church II in Świerszczów was built in one-dimensional plan. In the same plan, earlier in 1728, the
Orthodox church in Czemiejów was built. The one-dimensional arrangement did not occur in the
traditional Orthodox architecture (except in buildings of a lower rank, eg chapels), similarly to two-
-dimensional plan. They were, however, characteristic of Latin architecture. In the 2nd half of the 18th
century a few two-dimensional Orthodox churches were built (in Pniówno, Depultycze, Czulczyce II and
Świerże III, Rydza). The latter three could have one-dimensional plan. Generally, from the 1750s to the
1850s 36 wooden Orthodox churches were built in the former Cheta district, of which 7 in other than
three-dimensional plans.
We notice some essential changes in the arrangement and furnishings of the churches interior in
relation to traditional Eastern realization. It was Zamość Council (1720) which played a key role here,
because it permitted to unveil the main altar. The result of which was a new arrangement of the east part
of the church. The analysis of the sources proves that in the region under investigation they did not dare
to unveil the altar part completely; Instead of iconostas they employed a wooden partition reaching half
of the bulding's height (Czemiejów) or filling the wheol space (Świerszczów II). The main altar was placed
in front of the partition (or built in it) and on both sides there were side altars; there was no altar behind
the partition. There were icons hanging no the altars whose arrangement was identical with the
arrangement of the lowest row of iconostas (complete, arranged in five rows). In such "iconostas" there
were no czar's or deacon's gates. In the nave there were, alien to Eastern tradition, pulpit, confessional
and benches. Even a rough analysis of the interior of the churches from Włodzimierz diocesis shows that
Latin influences there were considerably weaker than in the part of Cheta diocesis under investigation,
especially as far as the realization of the east part is concerned. And so: iconostas with the czar's and
deacon's gates had only three rows; there was an altar behind it, the arrangement of the main altar did
not differ. One may draw a conclusion that the farther eastward the stronger Latin influence was.
In the former Chełm district Latin influences were particularly strong in the 2nd half of the 18th
century. We can observe this proces up to the 1840s, when the czar's authorities took the first steps in
order to abolish the Greek Catholic rite. The brick architecture was more receptive to new patterns,
because Latin influences were apparent not only in the interior but also in views, contrary to wooden
architecture which used traditional plans and changes in the interior. One has to emphasize that
prominent buildings were erected mainly at the suggestion of bishops who were proponents of the union.
These buldings-Orthodox churches (eg in Chełm) thoroughly dominated Latin forms (not only as far as
interiors go but also views of the Latin cross, ellipses, etc.). Actually, they resemble baroque and rococo
churches.
Translated by Jan Kłos