The agricultural town of Kamai in the Vitebsk region keeps one of the oldest historical and cultural values of Belarus - Church of John the Baptist. The construction of the architectural monument began in 1603 under the leadership of Jan Rudomin-Dusyatsky and lasted 3 years.
Kamaisky church part of a very interesting tourist route extending from the city Deep to urban area Lyntupy.
The monumental building has features of defensive architecture. In the facade of the church, two towers can be noted, 16 meters high and 5,5 meters in diameter.
The thickness of the defensive walls reaches two meters. The stern appearance is diluted only by arched niches located on the main facade and unusual round windows in the towers (earlier than loopholes, after all, the church also had defensive functions).
Initially, the temple had three naves, but after the war of 1654-1657, the building was badly damaged by fire, the vaults collapsed. Only one nave survived in the church, which was later covered with a wooden mirror vault.
The Church of St. John the Baptist also got it during the Great Northern War. Swedish troops damaged the walls of the temple with cannonballs, which, fortunately, were restored.
In 1778, to the southern part of the temple was added chapel with crypt, which now houses the burial place of the Oshmyany marshals.
Services were held in the Kamai church even during the USSR. A simple explanation is often found for this: during the war, the rector of the temple saved a famous partisan from German soldiers, which earned him a good attitude from the Soviet authorities.
In the interior of the temple, one can note the main altar, wooden statues of Saints Peter and Paul, an 18th century organ and miraculous icon of the Mother of God 17 century.
In front of the church, you can see another small attraction of the agricultural town of Kamai - stone cross.
The cross was carved from a huge granite boulder around the 15th-16th century. In the center there is a small niche for a crucifix, at the base there is an information plate.
The cross is approximately 2,5 meters high.
There is also a small park here.
In 2010-2011, the temple was actively restored, the consequences of the 2007 hurricane were restored. Today Kamaisky church active and open to everyone.
Больше sights of Belarus on the mapand interesting excursions.
What else to see in the Vitebsk region? I advise you to visit Church of St. Anne in the village of Mosar and of course St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk.