THE WOODEN CHURCH OF SAINT LUKE THE APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST IN KRIVÉ

A church whose story began centuries ago

The wooden Greek Catholic Church of Saint Luke the Apostle and Evangelist is one of the most significant monuments of the village of Krivé. It is a national cultural monument and at the same time remains a living place of prayer, the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, and the transmission of faith from generation to generation.

The present appearance of the church is associated above all with the year 1826. Yet its story reaches much further back into the past.

For centuries, people from Krivé gathered here to receive the sacraments, listen to the Word of God, celebrate the Divine Liturgy, baptize their children, marry, say farewell to their departed, and ask God for blessings for their families and village.

The church is therefore not merely a historic building. It is a witness to the lives of generations of people who sought God within it.

KRIVÉ – A VILLAGE WITH A LONG HISTORY

The village of Krivé was probably established in the 14th century in connection with settlement under German, respectively German settler, law. The first written mention of the village dates from 1406.

Historical sources contain the names Kriwá, Kriwe, Kriwa, as well as the Hungarian name Sárosgörbény.

For centuries, the life of the village was closely connected with the landscape below Busov, with agriculture, livestock breeding, and work on the land.

The Greek Catholic tradition of Krivé is also closely connected with its history. In 1777, the Greek Catholic priest Ján Nižalovský is documented in connection with the village.

The history of the village and the history of the church therefore cannot be separated. For centuries, the church was the natural spiritual center of local community life.

A CHURCH OLDER THAN 1826

The year 1826 is one of the most important dates in the history of the present church. However, it need not mark the complete beginning of a sacred building on this site.

Historical records state that an older church already stood in Krivé in 1717, respectively 1718.

The historian Ján Novák provides particularly interesting testimony in his publication Zachované dedičstvo pod Busovom. According to his data, the original side walls of the older structure were retained during the reconstruction in 1826.

If this testimony corresponds to the actual architectural development of the church, then the present structure may not be an entirely new building from 1826.

Parts of the older church may have remained preserved in its wooden structure.

We can therefore understand 1826 as a significant reconstruction and a new stage in the life of an older church, not necessarily as the complete beginning of its history.

GOSPEL BOOK FROM 1709

A rare Gospel book from 1709, preserved in connection with the church environment, takes us into an even older past.

The year 1709 is eight years earlier than the historically stated year 1717/1718.

The Gospel book itself, however, is not proof that the present church or its predecessor already stood in Krivé in 1709.

It is, however, significant evidence that liturgical life and a community existed in this environment and used liturgical books as early as the beginning of the 18th century.

The question of an even older origin of the church therefore remains an interesting historical topic.

1709 → 1717/1718 → 1826

Three dates that lead us ever deeper into the past.

1826 – MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION

In 1826 the church underwent a major reconstruction. This period brought a new stage in the architectural development of the church, which in its essential features has survived into more recent times.

One of the documents of this period is a bell bearing the year 1826, associated with the reconstruction of the church.

During the 19th century, the building thus acquired the form later captured in historical drawings and photographs.

THE CHURCH RECORDED IN 1879

An exceptionally valuable historical testimony

One of the most valuable documents about the church is the professional heritage documentation from 1879.

On 29 August 1879, the church in Krivé was carefully drawn and described as part of the heritage survey of that time.

The document is marked:

„A KRIVEI G. E. FATEMPLOM“

(Krivian Greek Catholic wooden church)

and also states its affiliation with:

SÁROS COUNTY – ŠARIŠ COUNTY

The documentation is connected with the name of the significant Hungarian art historian, architect, and heritage conservator Viktor Myskovszky (Myskovszky Viktor). His name and signature appear directly on the document.

WHAT DID THE CHURCH LOOK LIKE ALMOST 150 YEARS AGO?

Myskovszky’s drawing has preserved a unique image of the church from 1879.

It shows a wooden log structure, a massive western tower, the roof structure, and smaller towers topped with distinctive onion-shaped elements. The documentation also includes a floor plan of the church with marked dimensions.

This is not merely an artistic drawing. It is a professional historical record of the actual condition of the building in a specific year.

At that time, the church was already 53 years past the reconstruction of 1826.

Thanks to the 1879 document, we can compare the building recorded almost 150 years ago with the church we know today.

FROM DRAWING TO PHOTOGRAPH

After 1879, we have increasingly more opportunities to follow the history of the church through photographs as well.

Photographs from the 20th century show us not only the church itself but also its gradual changes. We can see the condition of the roof, wooden cladding, tower, entrances, fencing, and the immediate surroundings.

Every photograph is a small window into a particular time.

THE CHURCH AROUND 1922

Photographs from around 1922 capture the church before the major changes brought by the 20th century.

The traditional wooden construction and the characteristic silhouette of the church with its dominant tower are clearly visible.

The photograph is also a rare document of the appearance of the entire site at that time. The surroundings of the church were simple and lacked today’s landscaping, yet the building still formed a natural landmark in the landscape.

THE CHURCH AROUND 1950

Photographs from around 1950 show another important stage.

At that time, the church had a metal roof. The photographs clearly show the contrast between the newer metal roofing and the old wooden wall cladding.

The wooden elements had already been exposed to decades of rain, snow, wind, and sun. Despite this, the church retained its characteristic historic appearance.

1957 – PHOTOGRAPHS BY H. RUTTKAYOVÁ

An exceptionally valuable photographic collection dates from 1957.

The photographs bear the name H. Ruttkayová and show the church from several sides.

The photographs clearly show the metal roof, the massive wooden log structure, the tower, and the simple fencing of the site.

One photograph captures the church from the side in a wide view with the landscape behind it. Another shows the opposite side of the building and its wooden shingle cladding.

These photographs are valuable also because they allow us to follow the technical condition of the wooden building in the middle of the 20th century.

THE 1960s – 1967

Photographs from approximately the 1960s show the church in another stage of its existence.

The building retains its basic historic form, while at the same time we can see traces of the gradual aging of its wooden parts.

A photograph from 1967 shows the church in a wider view of the landscape and documents its presence within the village.

Today, these photographs represent not only documentation of the monument but also a historical image of Krivé itself and its landscape.

ENTRANCE TO THE TOWER

Historical photographs and preserved architectural solutions reveal an interesting detail as well.

The entrance to the church tower was arranged from three sides.

This solution is one of the church’s interesting architectural details and shows that the tower was not only a distinctive architectural element but also had its own practical internal arrangement.

Historical photographs allow us to view this detail in the context of the original form of the building.

WOOD THAT SURVIVED GENERATIONS

The wooden walls of the church are one of the most striking testimonies to its age.

In old photographs, we can observe the way the wooden walls were protected after being exposed to weather conditions for decades.

The wood gradually darkened, changed its structure, and bore the marks of time.

Yet it is precisely these traces that today create the church’s unique historic character.

THE CHURCH AS A WITNESS TO TIME

When we compare the drawing from 1879 with photographs from around 1922, from around 1950, with H. Ruttkayová’s photographs from 1957, with images from the 1960s and with the photograph from 1967, we see one remarkable fact:

The church changed, but its fundamental identity remained preserved.

The roof changed.
The cladding changed.
The fencing changed.
The surroundings changed.
The people changed.

But the wooden core of the church remained a place of prayer.

A MUCH OLDER STORY IS HIDDEN INSIDE

The church’s rare interior represents its greatest artistic value.

The four-tier iconostasis combines works from several periods.

Its main tier contains the royal doors with medallions of the Evangelists and scenes of the Annunciation, as well as icons of Saint Nicholas, the Hodegetria Mother of God, Christ the Teacher, and Saint Luke from the beginning of the 18th century.

Other parts of the iconostasis date from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Some precious icons, however, are even older.

ICONS THAT REMEMBER THE 16TH CENTURY

Several precious icons have been preserved in the church, dated to the end of the 16th century:

• Hodegetria Mother of God with Praise

• The Saviour with the Heavenly Hosts

• Saint Archangel Michael

• The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan – Theophany

• Deësis

• other older icons and crosses.

These works are among the church’s most valuable artistic monuments.

Their presence also raises another interesting question:

Where do these older icons come from?

Some may have been part of the furnishings of an older church. If their origin could be clearly established, they could provide further knowledge about the history of sacred life in Krivé.

HODEGETRIA MOTHER OF GOD

One of the oldest and most precious icons is the Hodegetria Mother of God with Praise.

The Mother of God points to her Son – Christ.

The word Hodegetria itself means “She who shows the way”.

Through its message, the icon thus recalls the fundamental direction of Christian life:

to look to Christ and let oneself be guided by him.

THE SAVIOUR WITH THE HEAVENLY HOSTS

Another precious icon depicts Christ seated on a throne with an open Gospel book.

Christ is surrounded by heavenly powers and the symbols of the Evangelists.

He is presented as Lord and Saviour, whose word is at the center of the life of the Church.

SAINT ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

Among the ancient icons there is also Saint Archangel Michael.

He is presented as a heavenly protector and warrior who stands on the side of God’s truth.

His presence is significant also because of the living veneration of Saint Archangel Michael in this region.

THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST IN THE JORDAN

A precious work is also the icon of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan – Theophany.

It depicts the moment when, at Christ’s baptism, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is revealed.

This icon is also dated to the end of the 16th century.

DEËSIS – CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF INTERCESSION

Among the older icons there is also a Deësis – Christ in the midst of the Mother of God, Saint John the Baptist, and heavenly intercessors.

The Greek word Deësis means supplication or intercession.

The icon reminds us that a person does not stand before God alone, but that the Church prays for him and intercedes for him.

GOSPEL BOOK FROM 1709

One book – one extraordinary testimony

Among the most interesting monuments connected with the church is the Gospel book from 1709.

When we stand today in the church whose present form is associated with 1826, this book reminds us that the spiritual life of the local community has even deeper roots.

The Gospel book outlived its original readers. We may not know their names, and today we can imagine their daily lives only very distantly.

But the book they held in their hands remained.

And to this day it bears witness to the faith of people who lived in this region more than three centuries ago.

THE GREATEST TREASURE IS HIDDEN IN THE TABERNACLE

All historical objects, icons, paintings, books, and the wooden building itself have great artistic and historical value.

For a person of faith, however, the greatest treasure of this church is the Eucharist – Christ truly present in the Sacrament in the tabernacle.

Everything that is in the church points toward him.

Icons point to Christ.
The iconostasis reveals the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Gospel speaks about him.
The bells call people to prayer.

And in the Eucharist, Christ is truly present among his people.

Therefore, this church is not merely a museum of the past.

IT IS A LIVING CHURCH.

THE CHURCH THAT SURVIVED THE 20TH CENTURY

Historical photographs remind us that preserving a wooden church was never a matter of course.

Wood requires constant care. The roof must protect the building from water and snow, the wooden walls from moisture, and the tower needs regular maintenance.

Each generation therefore had to do something so that the church could be handed on to the next.

Photographs from 1922, around 1950, 1957, 1960, and 1967 today remind us of individual stages of its life.

FROM THE METAL ROOF TO TODAY’S FORM

One of the most visible elements that changed during the 20th century was the church roof.

In photographs from the middle of the 20th century, we see a metal roof.

During the life of the church, the roof was modified and renewed several times according to the needs of the building and the possibilities of the time.

These changes are not merely technical details. They are part of the story of how successive generations tried to preserve the old wooden building.

SINCE 1965 – FURTHER REPAIRS AND RESCUE

During its existence, the church has undergone several repairs.

It was repaired in 1965–1970.

In 2003, its foundations were restored, and in 2006 the tower was repaired.

Since 2011, the valuable icons from the 16th century and other interior monuments have been undergoing gradual restoration.

Public institutions, professional restorers, the local community, and benefactors are involved in the restoration of the church.

Restoration work on the valuable icons continues, and completing it requires additional financial resources.

2026 – A NEW CHAPTER OF THE OLD CHURCH

Even today, the story of the church does not end.

In 2026, care for this precious monument continues.

The roof was replaced, protecting the wooden structure and valuable interior from the weather.

The surroundings of the church also received a new wooden fence and a stone walkway.

Just as generations before us repaired the roof, tower, wooden walls, and foundations, today’s generation also has its task:

to preserve the church for those who will come after us.

FROM 1879 TO 2026

When we compare Myskovszky’s drawing from 1879 with photographs from the 20th century and with the church today, we can follow more than a century of its life.

1879 – professional drawing and floor plan by Viktor Myskovszky
around 1922 – historical photograph of the church
around 1950 – church with a metal roof
1957 – photographic documentation by H. Ruttkayová
1960s – further historical photographs
1967 – the church recorded in another stage of its life
2026 – renewed roof, improved surroundings, and continuing care for the monument

147 years captured in images.

And yet the story of the church itself is much older.

MORE THAN A HISTORIC MONUMENT

This church is not merely an old wooden building.

It is a place where people have met God for centuries.

The wood from which it is built has aged.
The icons have passed through the hands of many generations.
The Gospel book from 1709 outlived its original readers.
The drawing from 1879 outlived its author.
The old photographs outlived the people who stood in them.

And yet one thing remained the same:

PEOPLE STILL SEEK GOD HERE,

WHO IS THE SOURCE OF PEACE.

When you enter the church, you are not entering merely a historic monument.

You are entering a place where people prayed centuries ago and where the Divine Liturgy is still celebrated today.

PLEASE ENTER QUIETLY AND WITH REVERENCE.

You are standing in a place where people prayed and preserved this place with reverence more than three centuries ago.

LET US PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED

We did not build this church.

We have been entrusted with its care for a time.

Our ancestors cared for it before us. After us, future generations will need it.

Our task, therefore, is not merely to admire its beauty, but to do everything in our power so that it may continue to stand.

So that even a hundred years from now someone may enter inside, look at the ancient icons, hear the sound of the bells, and say:

“Our ancestors prayed here centuries ago, too.”

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO SAVE THIS CHURCH

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESCUE AND RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH.

Your help contributes to preserving the valuable wooden building, historic icons, liturgical objects, and other monuments for future generations.