St. Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Gorodische
St. Virgin Mary Catholic Church was brick-built in the 18th century on the site of a Basilian monastery founded by Jan Kamiński, governor of Polack in 1640 (1632) which had been moved there from Monte-Cassino (Italy).
In 1886, the church was closed down. On April 25th 1867, the building of the church was adjusted for Orthodox celebration and consecrated into Holy Trinity church. In 1874-1876 the the church was partially rebuilt and the roof was decorated with 5 domes.
In 1919, the church became a catholic church again, and in 1930 the building underwent reconstruction.
During the post-war time the building was used as a warehouse.
The church is of a single nave type with a narthex and a powerful semicircular apse whose gable roof projects into cone roofing. The architectural composition is augmented by a three-storey tent-shaped bell tower attached to the northern side of the church in the 2nd half of the 19th century (which was an unusual decision for an Orthodox church). Between the apse and the bell tower there is a vestry.
Powerful pillars and high arch window openings accentuate the vertical composition of the church. The windows go deep into the walls, which are up to 0.8 m thick, and are framed with wall columns. The planar facades are complete with wide fine-shaped cornice friezes. The interior of the nave is covered with a barrel vault, on the western wall there is a choir place supported by two pillars.
Geographic coordinates: N 53° 19' 377" E 26° 00' 248"
Foto: Владимира ЗУЕВА, Андрея ПОНОМАРЕВА, Татьяны ГРИНКЕВИЧ
