This charming blue St Anne Orthodox church is one of the three sacral monuments to be found in Stary Kornin and its vicinity. Therefore, once on your way to this village, you can plan to visit also the other churches: St Michael the Archangel Orthodox church and St Prophet Elijah chapel in the village of Morze. The St Michael the Archangel parish, of which the St Anne Orthodox church is a part, is almost five hundred years old and its appearance on the map is linked with land grants by Kazimierz Mikołaj Sapieha from 1639. There is a legend according to which the parish was founded due to a miraculous event. The local population was to have seen Virgin Mary, in 1709, standing on one of the poplars. Thanks to this revelation, Stary Kornin became an important centre of Marian devotions and was granted the status of a sanctuary. To remember the miracle, an icon was placed in the church, which became the purpose of pilgrimages. Next to the icon, there is a book of miracles, which contains a record of people who were cured or of the suffering who were helped. The miraculous painting remained in the church until 1915, when as a result of the displacement of the Orthodox population, it was taken inside Russia and disappeared without a trace.
The St Anne Orthodox church was built in 1773. In the beginning, the role of the smaller church was to be temporary and auxiliary. However, it turned out that the building would be needed much longer. In 1903, the church was consecrated, also renovated and rebuilt. The service to honour the patron saint takes place twice a year: on 7 August and 22 December. The main services for the faithful are held in the St Michael the Archangel church. Due to its role and size, the St Anne Orthodox church is called “the small church”.
It has a log structure, has one nave and is oriented. During the last refurbishment in the 20th century, a roof was added above the main entrance supported on two posts. The sanctuary is smaller than the nave and is rectangularly enclosed. The church’s roofs were made of metal sheets and on top of the small tower placed above the nave there is an onion dome.
Stary Kornin is located in an interesting and beautiful region, therefore when you plan to visit the St Anne Orthodox church, try to find the time to visit Hajnówka and Dubicze Cerkiewne.