Krościenko: Church, History and Routes

• The former Greek Catholic church is a transitional example between archaic and classicist forms and serves as a Roman Catholic parish church.
• Next to the church stands a 19th-century bell tower; to its southwest is a cemetery with historic gravestones.
• Several gravestones from the interwar period and several from the 1950s with Greek inscriptions have been preserved in the cemetery.
• The round trip on the Bieszczadzkie Drezyny Rowerowe from Ustrzyki Dolne to Krościenko is 16 kilometers long and takes two hours.

Architecturally, the former Greek Catholic church is a transitional example between archaic and classicist forms. Classifying it as transitional makes clear that the building cannot be assigned solely to either of these two architectural vocabularies. Today, the church serves as the Roman Catholic parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The designation “formerly Greek Catholic” and its current parish function thus represent different periods in its history of use.

An earlier church in Krościenko was first mentioned in 1558. Next to the church stands a 19th-century bell tower. Its post-and-beam construction is based on vertical posts and horizontal beams; it also has a stone foundation and a shingle roof. These specific features help place the church complex in context, rather than describing it only in terms of a general style.

After the villagers were forcibly resettled after 1951, the church stood empty. In 1971, Roman Catholics took over the dilapidated church; it was thoroughly renovated in 1973. This sequence places its later use in chronological context without conflating its former Greek Catholic function with its current parish function.

After the end of the civil war, Greeks fled their country to escape reprisals and settled in Krościenko after 1948. The town is thus also connected with the history of Greek people who settled there after the war.

Another tangible trace can be found in the cemetery southwest of the church. Several gravestones from the interwar period and several from the 1950s have been preserved there; they bear Greek inscriptions. The two groups of dates provide different chronological reference points.

The round trip on the Bieszczadzkie Drezyny Rowerowe from Ustrzyki Dolne to Krościenko is 16 kilometers long and takes two hours. In Krościenko, the ride reaches a former railway station right on the Ukrainian border. If you plan to take this ride, check in advance whether it is currently operating.

Another route connection is the Szlak Kolonizacji Józefińskiej cycling route, which passes through Krościenko. Two details are relevant for planning: the round trip on the Bieszczadzkie Drezyny Rowerowe is 16 kilometers long and takes two hours, while the Szlak Kolonizacji Józefińskiej cycling route passes through Krościenko.

Discover more destinations: Tworylne, Muczne, Arłamów, Lutowiska, Smolnik, Stuposiany, Ropienka, Zatwarnica.

What is the former Greek Catholic church used for today?

It serves as the Roman Catholic parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Where are the gravestones with Greek inscriptions located?

In the cemetery southwest of the church. Several preserved gravestones date from the interwar period, and others from the 1950s.

How long is the round trip on the Bieszczadzkie Drezyny Rowerowe, and how long does it take?

The round trip from Ustrzyki Dolne to Krościenko is 16 kilometers long and takes two hours. Before planning, check whether the ride is currently operating.

Go to the main travel overview: Bieszczady.