New church laid on site of burned 17th-century church in Ivashkovytsia

Parishioners of St. Michael's Church in the village of Ivashkovytsia. Photo: Mukachevo Eparchy

On May 30, 2026, in the village of Ivashkovytsa of the Irshava Deanery of the Mukachevo Eparchy (UOC), the foundation of the new St. Michael Church was consecrated by Bishop Hilarion of Svaliava with the blessing of Metropolitan Feodor of Mukachevo and Uzhhorod, reports the eparchy's press service.

The new church will be built on the site of the historic wooden church that was destroyed by a fire in January of this year.

After the divine service, Bishop Hilarion addressed the faithful with an archpastoral word and conveyed the blessing of Metropolitan Feodor. The hierarch wished the parish rector Archpriest Stepan Savka and the villagers to restore the shrine as soon as possible with God's help, and also invoked God's blessing upon all who participate in the construction of the new church.

As the UOJ reported, on the night of January 7, 2026, the unique wooden St. Michael's Church built in 1658 burned down in Ivashkovytsia. The fire completely destroyed one of the oldest shrines of Transcarpathia, which was a monument of wooden church architecture. Despite the efforts of the priest and local residents, the church could not be saved. However, firefighters prevented the spread of fire to the nearby historic bell tower.

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