Church in Ruins

Church in Ruins - Oleh W. Iwanusiw

Church In Ruins illustrates the present condition of churches of the Ukrainian Catholic (Byzantine Rite) Eparchy of Peremyshl, part of which territory fell within the boundaries of present day Poland. While a few of the churches are recognized and protected as architectural antiques by Polish Museums, and others have been acquired and are cared for by the Polish Roman Catholic Church, the majority of the churches were destroyed and no longer exist. The author attempted to visit every one of the 690 churches in some 650 municipalities. His pictoral record is shown on the pages of this publication. Here you will find illustrated some fine examples of Lemko and Boyko wooden sacral architecture, as well as the painful remnants of churches that have been destroyed for whatever reason. Shown on the front portion of the jacket (on your above left on this Web Page) is the church in Malava. Its walls are crumbling from the chemical action of fertilizers that have been stored here for forty years. The church's cross is shown on the rear (on your above right on this Web Page). It is thrust in the ground where the altar once stood.