Greek Catholic tserkva of Our Lord’s Ascension

The tserkva of Our Lord’s Ascension, built in 1828, was founded by Tekla Pohorecka, née Bogdańska. Originally it was a parish tserkva, but in 1786 it became a branch of the parish in Izdebki.  After the forced resettlement of the local population, the church was abandoned. In 1970 the building was restored and transformed into a Roman Catholic church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, subordinate to the parish in Dydna. Inside, the walls were clad with wood boards during the latter reconstruction works. Fortunately, during the latest repairs the wood boards were dismantled and the interesting classicist polychrome paintings hidden for many years were renovated.

The log church has a floor plan of elongated octagon. The roof and the outer walls are covered with shingles. We can see here 19th century wooden epitaphs with inscriptions dedicated to Tekla Pohorecka, née Bogdańska and Ludwik Wysocki.

Inside there is an interesting illusionist altar with a scene of the Lord’s Ascension. On the walls in the nave there are illusionist columns, painted Apostle chandeliers, medallions with figures of the Evangelists as well as a motif of the eye of Providence. The ceiling is covered with wood boards. 

A decade ago, a simple metal belfry was erected next to the church, with two bells, named Jan Paweł (in honour of the Pope) and Ignacy (in honour of the Bishop of Przemyśl, Ignacy Tokarczuk).

A folk legend says that the original name of the village – Obarzym – is related to two brothers, who came here from Rome (Polish: Rzym). Apparently, people would say Oba z Rzymu (both from Rome), which then turned into the present-day Obarzym. However, according to historians, the village established here in the Middle Ages, based on German laws, was named Oberinn, or ‛way upwards’ (ober – ‛upper’, Inn – ‛way’) or ‛an inn there’ (ober – ‛upper’, Inn – ‛tavern’).

Photo: Krystian Kłysewicz

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