Spalona cerkiew z Hulcza i grupa cerkwi tomaszowsko-hrubieszowskich

In the south-eastern part of vaivodship of Lublin, and, to be more accurate, within the areas of Tomaszów and Hrubieszów districts and partly in Zamość district may be encountered a group of timber-constructed Uniate orthodox churches characteristic of their specific architectural features which are greatly differing from those present in architecture of orthodox churches in the neighbouring areas. The most ancient sacred buildings of that group are dating from the mid-seventeenth century while those most recently built, from the years ending the nineteenth century. They all were erected as those clearly divided into three parts in their general plans, namely that of sanctuary, nave and a part designed for the feminine worshipers and, in addition, with a strong emphasis on the nave forming both in plan and in the outer shape of the whole building its clearly discernible central portion. The above Uniate orthodox churches are, furthermore, characteristic of considerable heights of their outer walls which the impression cannot be obscured even by a strong enough horizontal accent formed by the overhanging eaves running around the building. Due to the separate roofings applied in all the three main portions of the building and having the shape о-f three domes or a dome crowning the nave and two gable roofs covering the two remaining parts and also owing to the strictly observed rule that the nave should always dominate over the other two portions have been more still emphasised not only the central nucleus and the symmetry of the whole structure but, at the same time, through this perpendicular accentuation of its separate portions was considerably strengthened an impression of its height. Both magnitude, but at the same time a certain tallness of solids of these Uniate orthodox churches seem to be even more striking features in the triple-dome buildings. For special attention deserve the two different, with concern to height, ways that were usually applied for shaping 'of carcasses of these sacred buildings which are either differentiated, i.e. these of nave walls are higher and thus dominating over those of the other two portions (normally having the same heights), or are of the same height in all the three portions of the building and are ending with a common cornice. Buildings in their first version are mainly to be found in the area of Tomaszów district and the so designed objects exibit an unbroken traditional continuity in their forms dating from the mid-seventeenth century until the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Designs representing the second version are grouped in the area of Hrubieszów district and their preserved and well known examples are dating from the nineteenth century. The burnt-down (due to the faulty electrical installation) Uniate orhodox church at Hulcze (erected in 1869) constituted one of the outstanding examples of the „Hrubieszów versionb of that group. The until now gathered documentation allows to state that the territorial range of the timber-constructed Uniate orthodox churches belonging to Tomaszów-Hrubieszów group is covering the territory of the neighbouring deanships of the former Uniate diocese of Chełm and also that the local building tradition was continued throughout the period from the first half of the 17th century until the years ending the 19th century. This tradition must have been one strong enough if even after the abolition in (1875 by the tzarist authorities of the Uniate diocese and after introducing of the orthodox rite lit was able to prevent the penetration of foreign influences which the fact is apparently evidenced by orthodox churches erected after 1875 and planned for the Russian-type liturgy who, however, preserved their former character.