Local sights > Synkovichi

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Synkovichi

Schedule of Services:

Services are held on Sundays and holidays, as well as on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month for the sick, the beginning of Service at 9.00 hours.

History

In the corners of the church there is 4 turrets with a spiral staircase inside. High walls have a thickness of 1.5 meters. Loopholes along the walls are reminiscent of the troubled times in which the church was erected. Massive walls, towers and arches over the room with loopholes pull together her with a small fortified castle. It combines the defense, residential and economic functions. In the modern form of the temple lacks the central dome, it covers the high gable roof. But the "Act visitation Synkovichskogo temple for 1760" shows that in the middle of the roof of the church was towering "dome with an iron cross."

The exact date of its construction is not known. This church is full of mysteries and wonders. There is a legend about the building of the church. In 1377 the Grand Duke Algerd died. His heir son Jagiello, who later became king of Poland. Jagiello went to war with his brother and uncle Vytautas Keistut. However, it was difficult to defeat them. Then he offered the world and invited to visit relatives. When they arrived, they were caught. Keistut executed, and Vytautas was jailed in Kreva castle. But in 1382 he managed to escape dressed as a woman. Everyone thought that he went to Prussia. And waiting for him on the road that led there. However, there are records in the annals of the prince went in another direction. And hiding in villages near the town of Slonim. In gratitude, the local people who helped him hide from his pursuers, Vytautas decided to lay in Synkovichi church. And he and his wife attended its consecration in 1407. This date is considered the birthday of the church.

Modern historians believe that the most likely time of its construction can be regarded as the end of XV - beginning of XVI century. But during the restoration have found evidence of an earlier history of this temple. The structure itself, which became the church was built much earlier. This is evidenced by the findings made during the reconstruction. On the walls of the church are many ancient graffiti in Latin and Greek. Under plaster restorers discovered graffiti on ancient Greek with the words of the apostle John:

"Beloved, Do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are from God. Orthodox Lord Jesus Christ with thy spirit. 1213 ". So it is quite possible that Michael Church in Synkovichi at least 300 years older than previously thought. Reconstruction of the church continues and many more discoveries to be done restorers.

The church is known all over Belarus and abroad thanks to the healing of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Vsetsaritsa." The image of the Mother of God "Vsetsaritsa" with many gifts of believers revered miraculous. To be more precise, in the church of its copy. Icon written specifically for the church of St. Michael the Archangel in Synkovichi on Mount Athos in Greece directly from the original stored there. Icon of the Mother of God, more than half hung with gold ornaments. It really is a miracle. Even a copy has amazing power and works wonders, which can be found in the "Book of the evidence of miracles of healing."

The first miracle. Woman heading to Poland to his dying mother, accidentally saw the temple in the village Synkovichi and drove there. Before the Mother of God "Vsetsaritsa" she said a prayer, repentance is that very rarely visited his mother and asked for it to catch his mother alive. An elderly woman had already long been bedridden and did not come to life. The doctors did not give her a chance. Hours later, she got out of bed in a clear mind and good health.

The icon helps to heal from cancer, alcoholism and drug addiction, many incurable diseases. In families who have lost hope to have a child because of the terrible diagnosis of "infertility", born beautiful healthy baby. Grateful people leave the icon of your gold jewelry, which she now literally hung.

On the first Friday of every month pray for healing people with cancer, and the third - to make a prayer from alcoholism and drug addiction.

The church is also famous for its unusual sound of bells. Votes 5 bells specially cast for St. Michael's Church, sounding in Belarus has no equal. Impressive and acoustics: Save furnished in the walls resonators heard singing prayers equally to all corners of the building.

In 1926, the Orthodox Church went on to become the center of Roman Catholics and Greek-Catholic parish. After World War II, the locals refused to pay for it’s running, and the church was closed. It was used as a warehouse. In the early 90s the church once again became Orthodox and operates to this day.

Under the floor of the church building is a crypt. A courtyard is set tombstone wife of the church and her newborn child, who died in 1872. In 1891, before the temple was built bunk Butovo-brick four-sided bell tower, reconstructed in 2007.

Synkovichskaya church - one of three similar temples built in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania before the Union of Lublin on the model of the Bernardine church in Vilnius. Her "sisters" - the Church of Nativity in Murovanka (about 30 kilometers from Lida) and the Church of the Annunciation in Suprasl (now Poland). However, the church in Synkovichi best example of church-fortress, and the best example of Gothic architecture in the Orthodox lands of ancient Rus.