Cerkiew pw. Ikony Matki Bożej 'Wszystkich Strapionych Radość'
Facts and practical information
Orthodox Church of the Icon of Our Lady "All Distressed Joy" is an Orthodox church in Koterce, in the Siemiatycze decanate of the Warsaw-Biels Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church.
The Orthodox parish in Tokary was established no later than in the 16th century; from the 17th century to 1839 it was a Uniate institution. In that year it was incorporated into the Russian Orthodox Church under the provisions of the Polotsk synod. The church in Koterce was built in 1909-1912 as a branch church of the same parish, on the site where a Marian apparition was said to have occurred in 1852. The revelation was not recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church, but nevertheless pilgrims would come there and miraculous healings would occur. In 1906 Bishop Mikhail of Hrodna gave his permission to build a church on the site. The construction of the church was financed by donations from the faithful. In 1948, in connection with the division of Tokary village, which occurred after the demarcation of the Polish-Soviet border, the church became a parish church. Despite the depopulation of the surrounding villages it remains an important destination for pilgrimages.
The church is located in the forest, near the settlement of Koterka, in the wilderness of the same name, also called the Holy Place by the faithful.
Cerkiew pw. Ikony Matki Bożej 'Wszystkich Strapionych Radość' – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)
Nearby attractions include: Cerkiew pw. Świętych Kosmy i Damiana.