Rola profesora Piotra Pokryszkina w ochronie dziedzictwa prawosławnego, etnicznego i narodowego w okolicach Chełma na początku xx wieku

First archaeological research near Cholm took place at the beginning of the 20th century and was led by Piotr Pokryshkin (1870–1922) from the Imperial Archaeological Commission (Petersburg, Russia). That research played a major role in the protection of the medieval architectural traces of the past existence of the Orthodox diocese of Cholm and the Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia. Activity of Pokryshkin – a lay person and a recognised scientist – contributed in a significant way to the survival of traces of the Orthodox identity and Ruthenian ethnicity in the land of Cholm. Pokryshkin’s legacy is an example of the unique role of laity in the protection of Orthodox identity and traditions.