Bonarówka is a small village in the Podkarpackie Voivodship. You will get there going from Krosno in the direction of Strzyżów and Żyznów. Once you arrive, you definitely have to visit the Greek Catholic Church of the Protection of Our Lady. This church was built in the first half of the 17^th century and in the 19^th century the structure was rebuilt under the supervision of Jan Lisko, who was a carpenter. This tripartite church became a single nave structure, was added a tower with a women’s gallery. What is it? In Old Polish, this term meant the place in the church where begging women would sit. This was also the place for the infidel, the heretics and the Jews, if they wanted to listen to a sermon or a catechesis. In synagogues and in Orthodox churches this was the space assigned for women and female servants.

When visiting the church inside, it is difficult not to pay attention to the polychromy executed by Paweł Bogdański. The Bogdański family is now referred to as a “clan” of painters and their works are highly valued by collectors. The tradition was started by Józef Bogdański (1801-1884), a nobleman, who executed, among others, the iconostasis in the church in Sukowate near Lesko, but also polychromies and iconostases in the following churches: in Ropki near Gorlice, in Śnietnica, Świątkowa Mała, Tyrawa Solna, Siemuszowa, in the parish in Krościenko Wyżne, in Jaśliska and in Lalin near Sanok.

His son, the aforementioned Paweł, followed in his father footsteps and executed several beautiful works in many churches in the region. Among his most famous works there is the painting “Ecce Homo” (previously in the chapel in Liszna and now in the open-air museum in Sanok), the icon  “The Last Supper” for the Orthodox church in Wańkowa (currently to be found in the same open-air museum) or the iconostasis in Trzciana near Dukla. The painting tradition was maintained in the family by consecutive generations.

The presbytery of the Orthodox church in Bonarówka was decorated by a Ukrainian artist – Paweł Zaporowski. Today, the Orthodox church is a branch church of the Roman Catholic parish in Żyznów. A charming, old cemetery is located nearby. It is worth having a look at it as among 38 tombstones the oldest one dates back to 1902.