The church is picturesquely situated on a hill, in the vicinity of the old burial cemetery and the remnants of a manor complex. 

History

The village of Liski was set up under a foundation charter granted by Prince Siemowit IV (Ziemowit IV) in 1401. Liski belonged to the Dominicans of Bełz. From the second half of the 18th century, the village was owned by the Pawłowski family. At the end of the 18th century, it became the property of Ignacy Majewski, general of the Polish army. Around 1870, the village became the property of Jan Krzyżanowski, the main founder of the currently existing Greek Catholic church, erected between 1872 and 1875, probably on the site of several pre-existing churches (first mentioned in historical records in the 1531). After the Second World War, the Orthodox church was converted into a Roman Catholic church. At present, it is used as a filial church of the parish church in Przewodów.

The church has been renovated several times and the following changes have been made: replacement of shingles with sheet metal cladding; demolition of the northern sacristy (1981); after 1983, the original traditional board and batten formwork was replaced with a shingle formwork, the roof was removed in the lower part of the crossly interconnected roof framework and the sectionally bent little roofs over the windows were removed (the shape of the windows may have been altered?). During the renovations carried out in 2001-2003, foundation benches and insulation were installed, some of the foundations and wreaths were replaced, the missing shingles in the nave wall were replaced and the structure of the choir gallery was reinforced.

Description

The Orthodox church is situated in the central part of the village, on the western edge of the former manor park. It stands on a hill and can be accessed from the main road via stairs consisting of several dozen steps. It is surrounded by a former cemetery with a few preserved tombstones and magnificent old linden trees. Oriented. It is erected on a tripartite floor plan, consisting of a rectangular nave, a chancel and a women's gallery, which are slightly narrower and lower than the nave. The chancel with a three-sided termination, originally with two sacristies on the sides (only the southern one has survived). The church was built with pine timber and has a corner-notched log structure. Initially, it was set on piles driven into the ground, which were later replaced by a foundation. The church differs from other three-dome churches (e.g. Chłopiatyn, Dłużniów, Hrebenne), because the main three sections of the church are placed slightly apart and are connected with lower passages. Another difference is associated with the domes, which do not have high tholobates, but rest on pendentives placed in the corners of the framework. Eight-section domes are topped with blind lanterns under pyramidal cupolas with contemporary crosses on top. Inside the domes, there are false vaults.

In the passages and in the sacristy, there are flat ceilings. Between the nave and the women's gallery, there is a choir gallery supported by four poles. The elevations are clad with shingles (originally, the traditional vertical formwork was covered with board-and-batten cladding). The building has rectangular windows of various sizes, multi-sectional; semi-circular, with a radial arrangement of muntins in the front wall of the women's gallery and in the upper sections of the side walls of the nave. The main entrance is preceded by a porch on four pillars. Inside, there is a polychrome from the time of the construction of the church with architectural and figural motifs, as well as an iconostasis and side altars.

In the eastern part of the church cemetery, there are tombstones and the entrance to the crypt of the founders of the church and the former owner of the estate. In the western part, there is a mass grave of victims of the Second World War. In the southern part, there is a free-standing screen-type bell tower. It is made of bricks and has three arcades (1930). 

To the east of the church, there are the preserved parts of the manor park from the 18th century. In terms with its visual characteristics and design, it harmonises with the church. 

The site is accessible from outside and inside upon prior arrangement.

compiled by Bożena Stanek-Lebioda, National Institute of Cultural Heritage, Branch Office in Lublin, 15 July 2016

Bibliography

• Brykowski R., Drewniana architektura cerkiewna na koronnych ziemiach Rzeczypospolitej, Warsaw 1995, pp. 123, 209, 234.
• Górak J., Dawne cerkwie drewniane w województwie zamojskim, Zamość 1984, pp. 9-10.
• Katalog Zabytków Sztuki w Polsce, volume VIII: Lubelskie Voivodeship, issue 6: Powiat hrubieszowski, Warsaw 1964, pp. 34-35.
• Kawałko D., Cmentarze województwa zamojskiego, Zamość 1994, pp. 36-37
• Niedźwiedź J., Leksykon historyczny miejscowości dawnego województwa zamojskiego, Zamość 2003, p. 264.
• Żurawicka G., Kuśmierz L., Drewniane budownictwo sakralne: powiat Tomaszów Lubelski, powiat Hrubieszów, Lublin 2008, pp. 52-53.