It is a typical west-Lemko church that was built in Czarne in the Low Beskids between 1752 and 1754. It is tripartite, consisting of a chancel, nave, and a church porch with a vestibule. Above the porch and the vestibule is a bell tower covered with a bulbous imperial roof. Inside, attention is drawn by the iconostasis, a richly decorated wall of icons that separates the nave intended for the faithful from the chancel and altar for the sacred liturgy, inaccessible to the public. The Baroque-Rococo iconostasis was sculpted in 1801 and renovated and repainted in 1895. After the displacement of the Lemkos, much of the furnishings were stolen from the abandoned church, and almost all of Bogdański’s canvases were taken down. The iconostasis consists of four rows of icons arranged in tiers. The bottom tier consists of four icons, called Sovereign icons, between which there are three arcaded passages, the central one being the Tsar’s Gate and the side one the Deacon’s Gate. On the left is an icon of St Nicholas. To the right of it are icons of the Virgin and Child, then Christ, then the church’s patron saint, St. Dmitri. Only traces of silhouettes remain of the last three images. Also missing is the ornately carved and painted Tsar’s gate. The second row consists of twelve ‘prazdniki’, small icons depicting the most important feasts of the liturgical year, punctuated in the middle by the Last Supper. Above the prazdniki is the apostolic tier, called Deesis, which means intercessory prayer in Greek. Centrally placed is an icon of Christ the Great Priest, with three icons on each side, each depicting two apostles. The iconostasis is crowned by a cross with a painted figure of Christ, and on its sides are six reconstructed medallions with representations of the prophets. The interior of the church is decorated with polychrome paintings. The walls are covered with imitation marble blocks, floral ornamentation, and figural scenes. On the higher parts of the vaults, the polychrome imitates a sky dotted with stars. At the very top are paintings depicting God the Father and the Ascension of Christ. The south wall of the nave features an illusionistically painted Baroque side altar. Near the church is the Greek Catholic clergy house from Szlachtowa. The vicarage is supplemented by a storehouse from Wierchomla Wielka. Initially, it served as a granary. Later, it was used to store old furniture and unused church and liturgical equipment.
Czarne Greek Catholic Church
Beacon