The Holy Presentation Church in the ancient suburb of Olyka — Zalisochne — is an architectural monument of national significance and one of the classic examples of Volyn Baroque. The church was built in 1784 at the expense of the parishioners, and it is the oldest preserved Orthodox shrine of Olyka.
From the Church “at the Graves”
The first church here was wooden. In 1727, funded by Prince Mykhailo Kazymyr Radziwiłł, nicknamed “Rybonka,” a parish church was built near the Lutsk Gate — the so-called church “at the graves.” Half a century later, it was destroyed by fire. In 1784, on the same site by the road, local craftsmen built the stone Church of the Presentation of the Lord at the expense of the parishioners.
The Fortress Church
According to the church chronicle, the church was built with lime mortar reinforced with metal rods, and the walls are about four meters thick. Such strength is explained by the church’s location near the highway: the building also served defensive functions. Therefore, the Presentation Church combines Baroque facade plasticity with the massiveness of a true fortress.
What to See
Baroque facades, massive walls, and the silhouette of the church standing above the old highway. The church is part of a walk through Olyka together with the Radziwiłł Castle, the collegiate church, and the Lutsk Gate, near which its predecessor stood.
How to Get There
Zalisochne is a suburb of Olyka, 40 km from Lutsk. Nearby are the Olyka Castle and the Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity.
