Synkavichy Fortified Church, Synkavichy, Belarus

The Church of St. Michael in Synkavichy is a Gothic church was built in 16th century. It is one of the first fortified churches in Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1880-1881, the temple was significantly reconstructed. In 1926, it was rebuilt as a Catholic church. In 1988-1990, it become Orthodox. This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2004.

The defensive system of the church consists of four towers and loopholes placed under the vaults. The interior of the church looks like a hall, its cross-shaped vaults with nervuses rest on six pillars. With the purpose to improve the defence capacity the windows are raised high above the ground.

References:

Religious sites in Belarus

Address

P99, Synkavichy, Belarus

See all sites in Synkavichy

Details

Founded: 16th century
Category: Religious sites in Belarus

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.belarusguide.com

Rating

4.9/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Ruzhany Palace Ruins (34 km)
Kosava Palace (39,8 km)

User Reviews

Максім Пыжэўскі (2 years ago)
Как памятник архитектуры - оценка "10" по пятибалльной системе. Всё остальное, по моему мнению, не служение Богу, а бизнес. Своими глазами наблюдал неприятную картину. Перед началом службы к матушке подходит древняя бабуля (на вид далеко за 80) и хочет заказать сорокоуст. Далее начинается чистой воды развод. Бабушке вливается информация, что для "лучшего действия" сорокоуста она ещё должна купить массу иконок и всякого рода амулетов, чтобы развестись их по всему дому. В итоге, по моим подсчётам, бабушка на всё это отдала 2/3 своей пенсии. На содержание храма? Может быть. Но при такой версии в эту историю не вписывается шуба матушки (не берусь оценивать её стоимость, поскольку не являюсь экспертом в этой области). Но шуба выглядит явно не бедно.

Алина Кунцевич (2 years ago)
Первый раз я была в церкви на Рождественские праздники. Незабываемый голос отца Арсения, лучезарная икона Пресвятой Богородицы "Всецарица", святой источник, искренность и красота молитвы, божья благодать ... сюда хочеться возвращаться ещё и ещё.... и верить, что Господь услышит ...и все будет хорошо

Светлана Мелешкина (3 years ago)
В этом храме проводятся службы о болящих раком первую пятницу и третью субботу месяца. В храме находится список Чудотворной иконы "Всецарица". Начало в 9.00. Поклониться иконе приезжают тысячи людей. В благодарность исцелившиеся привозят и вешают на икону подарки.

Таня Крем (3 years ago)
Внутри красиво, но это не главное! Главное, что в ней проводится молебен иконе Всецарицы, по онкологичским заболеваниями прихожан. Люди молятся иконе и исцеляются!

Paulouski Family (4 years ago)
Very nice and interesting church and place.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Me in ME

Historic Site of the week

Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba

The Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the Mezquita is regarded as one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture.

According to a traditional account, a small Visigoth church, the Catholic Basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins, originally stood on the site. In 784 Abd al-Rahman I ordered construction of the Great Mosque, which was considerably expanded by later Muslim rulers. The mosque underwent numerous subsequent changes: Abd al-Rahman II ordered a new minaret, while in 961 Al-Hakam II enlarged the building and enriched the Mihrab. The last of such reforms was carried out by Almanzor in 987. It was connected to the Caliph"s palace by a raised walkway, mosques within the palaces being the tradition for previous Islamic rulers – as well as Christian Kings who built their palaces adjacent to churches. The Mezquita reached its current dimensions in 987 with the completion of the outer naves and courtyard.

In 1236, Córdoba was conquered by King Ferdinand III of Castile, and the centre of the mosque was converted into a Catholic cathedral. Alfonso X oversaw the construction of the Villaviciosa Chapel and the Royal Chapel within the mosque. The kings who followed added further Christian features, such as King Henry II rebuilding the chapel in the 14th century. The minaret of the mosque was also converted to the bell tower of the cathedral. It was adorned with Santiago de Compostela"s captured cathedral bells. Following a windstorm in 1589, the former minaret was further reinforced by encasing it within a new structure.

The most significant alteration was the building of a Renaissance cathedral nave in the middle of the expansive structure. The insertion was constructed by permission of Charles V, king of Castile and Aragon. Artisans and architects continued to add to the existing structure until the late 18th century.

Architecture

The building"s floor plan is seen to be parallel to some of the earliest mosques built from the very beginning of Islam. It had a rectangular prayer hall with aisles arranged perpendicular to the qibla, the direction towards which Muslims pray. The prayer hall was large and flat, with timber ceilings held up by arches of horseshoe-like appearance.

In planning the mosque, the architects incorporated a number of Roman columns with choice capitals. Some of the columns were already in the Gothic structure; others were sent from various regions of Iberia as presents from the governors of provinces. Ivory, jasper, porphyry, gold, silver, copper, and brass were used in the decorations. Marvellous mosaics and azulejos were designed. Later, the immense temple embodied all the styles of Morisco architecture into one composition.

The building is most notable for its arcaded hypostyle hall, with 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, granite and porphyry. These were made from pieces of the Roman temple that had occupied the site previously, as well as other Roman buildings, such as the Mérida amphitheatre. The double arches were an innovation, permitting higher ceilings than would otherwise be possible with relatively low columns. The double arches consist of a lower horseshoe arch and an upper semi-circular arch.

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Synkavichy Fortified Church