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Unique folk art without any nails

Wooden churches were built without any metal nails. It would namely symbolise the agony of the crucified Christ that church builders did not want to show in their works. They only used wood that they worked with a feeling of folk master craftsmen and then connected it with oak wedges. In this way, the so-called Pearls of the Carpathians were built, which are Slovak jewels that are several hundreds of years old.

According to historical documents, about 300 churches built using this technique existed in Slovakia in the past. Today, their number is much lower, but the more precious they are. Churches that have been preserved stem from the 17th and 18th centuries. Exceptions are churches in Trečany and Hervartov that were built in the 16th century. These sacral constructions without any nails were consecrated in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Churches. However, most of them were built by Greek Catholics in East Slovakia. It is where a set of 27 historical churches are situated that were declared natural cultural monuments in the 1970s. In 2008, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) appraised the beauty of the Slovak sacral constructions when it included eight of them (churches in Hervartov, Tvrdošín, Leštiny, Hronsek, Kežmarok, Ruská Bystrá, Bodružala and Ladomírová) in the World Heritage List.

Walking the Carpathian Wooden Path

From the Tatra Mountains along the Slovakia/Poland border to the Ukrainian border, a path of wooden wealth with incalculable value stretches the length of 333 km. The Carpathian Wooden Path crosses the cities of Kežmarok, Stará Ľubovňa, Bardejov, Svidník, Medzilaborce, Humenné, Snina and Sobrance, and includes nearly 50 churches on the Slovak side of the Carpathian Arch. The Polish side of the wooden path is much longer and will lead visitors to 120 churches through its pathways.

A walk through the whole path strewn with sanctuaries takes a long time because it covers a large area. However, in some places the church concentration is high and fluently passes from one village to another. Such a secluded place full of wooden wealth is certainly the district of Svidník where ten churches are hidden. The eleventh was moved from Nová Polianka to an open-air museum of local architecture situated directly in Svidník. From the open-air museum of the district city tourists can get to the adjacent villages. In the direction of the Poland border, through the villages of Ladomírová, Hunkovce and Nižný Komárnik, there are also branching roads to the villages of Dobroslava, Šemetkovce, Krajné Čierno, Korejovce, Bodružal, Príkra and Miroľa. The churches are open for the public thanks to local volunteers, mostly pensioners or sextons who willingly unlock their doors and provide brief information to visitors. The entrance fee is voluntary and tourists can in their sole discretion decide to contribute to the church by a small financial gift or purchase souvenirs. The precious sacral constructions reminding of the old times remain a busy place also in the 21st century, because the Masses are regularly served there, besides for guided tours. Worshipers come in these churches with respect for God and the art of their fellow countrymen, who created these wooden jewels many years ago.

Churches in East Slovakia

East Slovakian sacral constructions that are a part of the Byzantine Christian culture – so-called „cerkvy“, are characterised by rustic work. The churches are divided into three main parts – narthex, bay and sanctuary that symbolise the Trinity. „Cerkvy“ are situated on elevated places in picturesque villages, in the midst of thick forests. The builders decorated them in a unique fashion of laying and profiling boards and shingles. Some of the churches, in particular door furniture and window fittings, are decorated with metal elements. The blacksmith folk art of local craftsmen was also reflected in the crosses that are mounted on dome towers of buildings. The interior of wooden churches consists of an altar and an iconostas composed of the individual icons whose order, layout and motif are strictly determined by the liturgical canon. Icons are written on wood and each of them contains deep symbolics.

In spite of the similar construction technology used for the churches and their division into three parts, each church is different and unique. Fine ornaments and decorative elements on windows, domes or walls, as well as overall architecture prove it. They are neither ostentatious nor luxurious, but show the devotion of simple folk to God. To God for whom they had built churches to find refuge and celebrate Him.

Rescue of folk jewels

Ten unique churches are situated in the district of Svidník. It is where a non-profit organisation Rescue and Reconstruction of National Cultural Monuments – Wooden Churches beneath Dukla was founded from initiative of 12 mayors and seven priests in 1998. Besides for the idea of the Carpathian Wooden Path, the institution by its persistent struggle for financial support achieved the reconstruction of the churches that were in disrepair. The organisation pursues its effort at the conservation and promotion of a landmark of a poor region in the eastern part of the country.

Among others, the entry of eight churches into the register of the UNESCO World Heritage List has drawn attention to the Carpathian Wooden Path. However, wooden churches throughout Slovakia have a long way to go before the entire world becomes aware of their great value. It is for the present and future generations to preserve the heritage of our fathers, who materialised their devotion to the Lord in unique churches full of beauty, simple folk art and soul of fulfilled belief in God.