Tserkva Complex – Greek-Catholic Tserkva of Our Lord’s Ascension

The earliest written record related to Kruhel Wielki dates from 1448. The tserkva which can be seen here today was built before 1630. The belfry was added in the 1700s. From 1785 this was a filial church of the Greek Catholic tserkva in Prałkowce.

Over the centuries the building was reconstructed a number of times. Research findings show that originally the tserkva was lower, the roof slopes over the chancel and narthex were protruding approximately to half of the nave height, and they formed a kind of skirt roof along the nave walls. After the local population was forcefully resettled in the 1940s, the tserkva was abandoned, and fell into decay. It was restored during 1997−2000.

The chancel on the northern side is adjoined by the prothesis. The nave is covered with a hip roof. Over the chancel and narthex there are three-pitched roofs. The walls and the roofs are clad with shingles. The portal leading into the narthex closes with a semi-circular arch. The southern portal to the nave as well as the windows are enclosed with segmental arches. Inside, the chancel and the narthex are covered with log barrel vaults; in the nave there is a log cupola ceiling, and in the prothesis – a flat ceiling.

The interior furnishings have not been preserved.

A log belfry can be seen west of the tserkva. Remnants of the cemetery occupy the area around the church. In the village we can still see wooden houses representing more ancient log-and-framing type of construction.

South of Kruhel Wielki we can visit structures of the outer ring of the Fortress of Przemyśl, most notably the auxiliary fort, named VIb “Lipnik” completed in 1905.

Photo: Krzysztof Zajączkowski

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