Description of the attraction
The ancient church, which we now know as the Temple of St. Elijah, was built by the inhabitants of the village of Pishcha in 1298. Only at the end of the 15th century was it consecrated in honor of Saint Elijah the Prophet. On the territory around the temple, surrounded by an oval-shaped stone wall, there was once a cemetery. Even now, you can see the remains of tombstones with almost indistinguishable inscriptions.
Currently, there are no cities or settlements in the immediate vicinity of the church. Therefore, it makes no sense to hold regular services here, where no one will be present. In this regard, the priest comes here only once a year - on the feast of the patron saint of the church of St. Elijah, which is celebrated on August 20 and serves a solemn mass. Residents of the surrounding villages are well aware of the only service of the year and gather in front of the Church of St. Elijah in advance to be sure to hear the sermon of the local priest. On that day, the deserted area around the church, overgrown with grass, is transformed. Some believers stay here for picnics after the service.
The church of St. Elijah, built of stone, looks abandoned and abandoned. A small window on the main façade, more like a loophole, has no glass, but is simply enclosed by a grate. A door made of horizontal wooden planks could be seen on some shed or barn, but certainly not on a church. The temple tower is a through arch for the bell, which is now empty, that is, there is no bell in the abandoned church. Despite these shortcomings, the Church of St. Elijah is a local landmark. Tourists are often brought here. Most excursions around the area begin with a visit to this temple.
