St Paraskeva Church Kwiatoń
38-315 Kwiatoń
Tourist region: Beskid Sądecki i Niski
Due to its proportions, the church is ranked among the most beautiful Orthodox houses of worship in Poland. The tserkva is a classic example of Lemko church architecture, even though it underwent several redecorations in the 19th and 20th centuries. The temple has three parts, each built on square plans. It is composed of a narrow presbytery, a clearly separated nave and a women's gallery with a pole-frame structured tower – the highest of this kind in the Lemko region – with a belfry adorned with a flounce-like ornament. The walls of the church, soaring tented roofs with setoffs, and bulbous domes with false lanterns are all covered with shingles. The interior of the temple is decorated with a unique polychrome from 1811 with figural and ornamental motifs which, after a recent renovation, impress visitors with their deep colours. Another noteworthy element is Michał Bogdański's iconostasis from 1904 as well as two side altars with icons depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child and the Descent from the Cross. The builing is currently used as a Roman Catholic church under the authority of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Uście Gorlickie. In 2013, the church was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.