⛪ Parish Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Narew

📜 Origins of the parish

The history of the Orthodox parish in Narew dates back to the early 16th century.

🔹 In 1529, a church was founded, although surviving sources do not clearly identify its founder
🔹 The first written reference to a Ruthenian church in Narew on Bielska Street comes from 1560
🔹 In 1578, one clergyman from Narew was recorded
🔹 Another historical mention dates from 1660

🏛️ Descriptions and parish development

The first preserved description of the church dates from 1772.

🔹 According to the Klirovye Vedomosti of 1846, the church and presbytery stood on the same plot
🔹 The parish then had 2,244 faithful living in 282 houses
🔹 In 1847, the number of parishioners increased to 2,284
🔹 The parish belonged to the Bielsk deanery of the Lithuanian–Vilnius diocese

⛪ Present parish church

🔹 Construction of a new wooden church began in 1882
🔹 The church was consecrated on 9 May 1885
🔹 It has remained the parish church of Narew to this day
🔹 In 1901, the parish became part of the Grodno diocese
🔹 In 1905, the parish numbered 3,098 faithful
🔹 In 1913, a stone fence with a gate was built around the church

⚔️ The 20th century and difficult times

🔹 During World War I, many parishioners were evacuated deep into Russia
🔹 In the interwar period, the parish gained the status of a state-supported parish
🔹 After World War II, many faithful left for the Soviet Union
🔹 The parish became part of the Warsaw–Bielsk diocese
🔹 In the 1960s, it was included in the Narew deanery
🔹 A tragic event was the mysterious death of the parish priest, Archpriest Piotr Popławski

🔥 Fire of 1990 and reconstruction

🔹 On 12 April 1990, on Holy Thursday, a fire broke out during the reading of the Twelve Gospels
🔹 Almost the entire interior of the church was destroyed
🔹 One parishioner lost his life while saving the altar cross
🔹 Reconstruction was led by Fr. Teodor Weremiejuk, and from 1991 by Fr. Mitred Archpriest Bazyli Roszczenko
🔹 The interior, iconostasis, and icons were restored
🔹 On 25 September 1994, the church was consecrated by Metropolitan Bazyli

🛠️ 21st-century restoration

🔹 In 2020, the church underwent comprehensive restoration
🔹 The works were carried out as part of a project to conserve and digitize wooden Orthodox churches
🔹 The project was implemented by the Orthodox Diocese of Lublin–Chełm

⛪ Cemetery church in Narew

🔹 The old cemetery in Narew was established in the late 18th century
🔹 A wooden chapel was moved there from the village of Czyże
🔹 It was consecrated in 1853 in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
🔹 In 1993, the church was relocated to the active Orthodox cemetery
🔹 After a fire in 2000, it was rebuilt in brick
🔹 The rebuilt church was consecrated on 1 May 2003

🌿 Odrynki – Krynoczka and the former monastery

🔹 Odrynki is associated with the former Narew Monastery
🔹 The monastery existed from the 16th century until 1824
🔹 A chapel stands at Krynoczka, regarded as the monastery’s spiritual successor
🔹 Earthworks and foundations of monastic structures have survived
🔹 In the 19th century, a church and chapel were built on the site

⛪ Chapel in Rybaki

🔹 The chapel in Rybaki was built through the efforts of local residents
🔹 The cornerstone was laid on 25 September 1994
🔹 The consecration took place on 24 June 1997
🔹 It was the last church consecrated by Metropolitan Bazyli
🔹 Despite the small number of faithful, the parish provides ongoing pastoral care

The Białowieża Forest region