The existence of the wooden sacral buildings in Eastern Slovakia is not incidental. The reason for that is the geographical location. It is the area of the massive mountain range Carpathians that is rich on forest. During the centuries specific living conditions have been formed there that resulted in specific culture. It was a region where two big world cultural streams met: western - Roman and Eastern - Byzantine.The esthetic and art feelings of the authors cannot be forgotten.
    The wooden churches, called "cerkvi", have got a special importance in people's life below the Carpathians. They usually represent the dominant of the village; they are built on the hills that are farther from the other houses. They are often protected with a wooden or stone fencing that is completed with a small shingle roof on the top. The churches were usually surrounded by very high linden trees. A part of the complex is also a cemetery - the place of the last rest that shall be close to the church.
    The most important building materials were the red spruces. Their wood is of high quality and is weather condition - resistant. Later when their supplies ran out the red spruce was replaced by spruce and fir. The churches built of precious yew tree may be found very rare.
    From the architectural piont of view three types of wooden sacral buildings are found in Slovakia.
    The oldest churches were built in the 15th - 16th centuries, their architecture is influenced by the Gothic style.
    A characteristic feature of the sacral wooden buildings is that they consist of three parts. On the axis east - west there are : the altar part - sanctuary, the nave and the "babinec" - the room under the tower.
    The three towers with three crosses dominate the three parts of the interior. The roofs are of hand made shingles. The cross as a symbol of Jesus Christ martyr's death have been used since the 4th century. Four types of crosses may bee found: double-armed Byzantine cross, three-armed papal cross, Latin and Greek cross.
    The most important part of the sanctuary is the iconostasis. It is from the Greek "eikon" - picture and "stasis" - building. I tis a picture of the eastern religious ideology. It was developed from the low wall consisting of four columns. The wall separated the altar from the nave. At the end of the 14th century the first icons were put between the columns and so today's iconostasis was created.
    The iconostasis is divided vertically and horizontally. On the central vertical axis the king (czar) door is situated. The door is nicely decorated and accomplished with small icons of four Evangelists with the pictures of the Annunciation. Above the czar door the Last Supper, Jesus Christ - Pantocrator and Calvary are situated.
    On the horizontal level (the first row) there are the icons of St. Nicolas, the Mother of God, Jesus Christ and the icon of the patron or day the church is consecrated to. There are also two deacon doors ; they are for the priest's assistants. The second row is formed by the icons taht show twelve main religious days in the years. In the third row there are twelve apostles and in the fourth row twelve Old - Testament prophets and kings.
    Beside the iconostasis an important part of the interior is the main altar (prestol) that is in the central part of the church. There is also the sacrifice table "zertvenik". The Host is prepared here during the liturgy.
    The walls of the nave and the "babinec" are sometimes decorated with the wall paintings or icons. Their arrangement does not follow the strict rules as i tis at the iconostasis.
    The inner equipment - the pictures on the walls, colourful procession flags and some other objects as e.g. candlesticks, pews and stc. Create a spiritual atmosphere that reflects religious and cultural tradition of the people.
    The complex of 27 wooden churches in the Northeastern Slovakia is declared the National Cultural Monument. At the present the procedure to be classified as the world heritage by UNESCO has been in progress.
    The wooden churches with their unique charm attract a lot of visitors not only from Slovakia. People from all over the world come and visit them. In the silence of the twinkling candle flames people stop and think about the passing issues. How many prayers have been heard here. Let u spray and we shall be forgiven.