The parish records refer to the church back in 1751, but the actual erection date has not been fixed and varies from 1780 to 1794.
The church is built of huge oak logs some of which are 46 feet long.
Even the wooden shingles covering the roof and the cupola are made out of one-inch thick oak boards.
Similarly to other Lemko churches the Steblivka church is of the three-room design.
Unlike many other Lemko churches, the Steblivka church has no domes or cupolas over the nave or sanctuary. The church features a hip roof over the nave and its continuation at a lower level over the sanctuary. A tall tower stands over the "babynec". The tower is topped with a traditional cupola.
The parish decided to build a new, masonry church in 1992.
IN MARCH OF 1994 THE CHURCH BURNED DOWN. Although the official cause of the fire is claimed to be an electrical short circuit, there are those who speculate that the church was set alight. What a waist! What a loss!
The photograph was made in 1992. Due to the close quarters about the church I had to stand on a six-foot tall fence post to photograph it. I conversed with the neighbours during the time we were there. I was asking the people to take good care of the structure, especially after they completed and would be using the new church. I was trying to impress on them that not all things were to be done away with, thrown out . . . . I was trying to tell them that this was part of their heritage, they were all baptised here, their grand-grand-grandfathers left their footprints on this church's floor . . . .
