Dobra Szlachecka

The former Greek Catholic parish Church of St Nicholas in Dobra Szlachecka was built in 1879 as a wooden church. Today it serves as the Roman Catholic filial Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

One of the most valuable elements of the entire complex is a free-standing 17th-century tower that served as both a bell tower and an entrance gateway. Its lower level was built of stone and later plastered and whitewashed, while the middle level has a traditional log construction and was covered by a ceiling.

The history of the tower’s interior is particularly interesting. It once contained an archaic-style iconostasis with a single deacon’s door. Unfortunately, the iconostasis has not survived to the present day.

According to local tradition, the tower was once a separate church. Modern sources describe it rather as a chapel, probably because of its small size. However, there may be some historical truth behind the local tradition, as according to Orthodox tradition even a small sacred building containing an iconostasis could be regarded as a church.