Church in Darevo
Passing along the Lyakhovichi-Baranovichi road, make a stop in the village Darevo. It is located just 6 km from the city of Baranovichi. Right next to the road you will see Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The first wooden church was built on this site in the 15th century, but like many valuable architectural objects, it was lost.
Darevsky church was rebuilt in 1841. During the First World War, in 1915, the village was destroyed along with it. On the site of the temple, 11 years later, a chapel was erected, in which services were held.
Modern church
New abbot Stanislav Shaplevich in 1931 decided to build a new church in Darevo. The architect of the temple was Bronislav Ivanchik, a resident of the city of Baranovichi. A lot of money was required for the construction of the church, but the collected funds were not enough. Then it was decided to use the concrete blocks of German dugouts for the construction of walls. It wasn't hard to get them. Near the church flows the river Shchara, near which the front line passed - the fortifications were enough to build the church. The construction of the new temple was completed by 1938, but a year later it was closed.
Since 1939, Shaplevich was hiding from the authorities. When the Germans came to Darevo, the rector managed to resume services. But after some time, he was again forced to flee - the Germans suspected Stanislav in connection with the underground Polish army of Craiova. Despite attempts to escape, Shaplevich was nevertheless detained in 1947 by representatives of the Soviet authorities and exiled to Inta for 25 years.
In 1944 the church came under fire. But cannon shells could not damage the walls of the temple, which was built of durable material. The church began to be used as a grain warehouse, but they did not stop trying to destroy the shrine. In 1986, the authorities decided to burn down the church, but only the roof burned down. It also failed to destroy the walls.
In 1990, to the delight of the parishioners, who had been fighting for the return of the church for more than 20 years, the church again passed into the possession of the Catholic Church. During the restoration of the church in the 90s, exploded shells were found in the walls. Next to the temple there is a bust of the abbot Shaplevich and a monument with an angel on the site of the old church. A staircase leads from the road to the church. The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is surrounded by a fence with arched gates. Beautiful stained-glass windows give a highlight to the image of the temple. A plaque hangs on the front of the building. “Historical and cultural value of Belarus”.
Near these places you can visit several interesting objects: Fleryanovo estate и estate Korenevshchina.
