The Grodno region is really unique and rich in sights. In almost every city and even a small village you can find an interesting historical site. For example, in an agricultural town Gniezno preserved ancient Church of St. Michael the Archangel.
The first mention of the town of Gniezno (then still Gnezdo) dates back to the middle of the 15th century, as the possession of the Monividoviches. However, the construction of the church is associated with a different kind, - Shemetovich, who in all likelihood began to build this temple. There is a version that the work was carried out on the site of a wooden predecessor church.
Through the efforts of Jan and Elzbieta Shemetovich, in the first half of the 16th century, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel (many sources give the exact date - 1524 year).
The stone church was built in the form of a single-nave temple with a three-walled apse, and in the center of the main facade there is a two-tiered octagonal tower. The original architecture of the church is Gothic, but over time, features of the Renaissance style were added.
The striking features of the late Gothic appear in the hanging arches, stepped buttresses and rectangular niches. However, the architects also introduced features of the Renaissance style: various cornices, arched windows and, of course, interior decoration.
By the way, this is not the only temple in Belarus where such a mixture of styles can be found. Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Synkovichi - a similar example of a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic.
In 1555, when Gniezno passed to Hieronymus Chodkiewicz, the temple was re-consecrated to the Calvin collection. At this time, the church was rebuilt and modified. A century later, in 1643, the Catholics were able to take it back.
It should be noted that the fate of the church has always been difficult. The Church of St. Michael the Archangel was repeatedly burned and destroyed, but each time it was restored. As a reminder, in one of the walls of the temple you can see a cannonball left after the shelling of the war of 1654-67.
Another significant reconstruction of the Gniezno church took place during Yana Trapyansky in 1728. It was then that a crypt appeared under the tower, which in the future was used for burials.
In 1787, from the side of the chapel, a sacristy was built.
The 19th century again brought many problems. Almost all the wooden elements of the church burned down in a fire in 1839. At that time, Gniezno was owned by the landowner Tarasovich, who restored the long-suffering temple with his own money. The tombstones of his descendants are located near the tombstone chapel.
In Soviet times, the temple was closed and used as a warehouse, and over time, the building began to collapse and was simply abandoned. In 1989, the temple was returned to believers and restored, and since 1991 services have been conducted again.
A small chapel with old graves has also been preserved on the church territory.
There is even an interesting legend that once there was a pagan temple on the site of this church. According to rumors, sacrificial stones of pagans were found during regular construction work.
The main attraction of Gniezno is located on the street School 11-a, below is the mark with a dot on the map:
If you are in this agricultural town, then do not forget to look the estate of Tarasovich and Romer.
This is how the temple at Kanza 20 Stagodja looks like