Greek Catholic Wooden Church of St Michael the Archangel at Ladomirová

Name:

Gréckokatolícky drevený Kostol sv. Michala Archanjela v Ladomirovej

Contact: Ladislav Bojčí Mayor

Address:

090 03 Ladomirová, Slovakia

Mailing address:

Obecný úrad Ladomirová, Ladomirová 33, 090 03 Ladomirová, Slovakia

Telephone:

421 (0) 54 752 2626

Fax:

421 (0) 54 752 2626

Hours:

10am-5pm daily except during church services

The most numerous group of wooden churches in Slovakia is that formed by the Greek Catholic and Orthodox churches, which are scattered all over the north eastern region. The most characteristic feature of these religious buildings is their emphasis on the number three, symbolising the Holy Trinity. This can be seen not only in their three domes, but also in their groundplan, with three areas arranged in an axis ascending in height from west to east.

Ladomirová - iconostas detail (photo by Ľubica Pinčíková) The women congregated in the babinec (babinets), the area nearest to the door and the men in the nave (the largest part of the church), while the sanctuary was used for church rites. A wooden screen known as the iconostasis, typically incorporating three openings or doors and painted with icons depicting Christ, the Mother of God, the saints, feast days and the prophets and apostles, separates the nave from the sanctuary.

The Greek Catholic Church of St Michael the Archangel at Ladomirová was built in 1742 without a single metal nail. Both the iconostasis and altar date from the mid 18th century. The church was damaged during the Second World War, and as a result it is not in its original form.

The church at Ladomirová, along with seven other wooden churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain Area, has been included on the UNESCO's Word Heritage List.