The earliest known church in this location existed in the first third of the 16th century [1, p. 93]. By the late 18th century, Stari Oleshychi lost its independent parish status and was incorporated as a filial church of the parish in the town of Oleshychi. The wooden Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built at the turn of the 17th–18th centuries and later renovated in 1861 and 1876, burned down during a major village fire in 1901. In 1910, the construction of a new stone church began on its site, and it was consecrated in 1913 [3, p. 55].

During the interwar period (1929–1930), the church was decorated in the Ukrainian national style by an unknown artist. It is speculated that the painter was the local artist Ivan Kalyna [2, p. 104]; however, some icons are signed with the initials “L.K.” [3, p. 53].

The bell tower, constructed in 1912, has been preserved but no longer serves as a gate [3, p. 55]. After the deportation of Ukrainians, the church was used as a warehouse until 1989. It now stands abandoned and is gradually deteriorating.

Sources:
1. Mazur J. Zabytkowa architektura cerkiewna Ziemi Lubaczowskiej. Lubaczów, 2015. 136 s.
2. Козій Н. Головний хрест з купола стягнули бульдозером. Вісник Любачівщини, випуск 17, 2009. c. 104.
3. Щупак А. Церква Покрови Божої Матері в Старих Олешицях: історія і мистецтво. Студентські історичні зошити. Випуск 2, Івано-Франківськ, 2011. С. 50-55.

O. Svidzinska