The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in the agro-town of Mikhalishki. Belarus.
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The church was built around 1653 in the Sarmatian Baroque style. It was built at the expense of Jan Brzestowski. The building was designed by the architect, a Belgian by birth, Kristof Pence.
Externally, the austere building only imitates a medieval castle, but no defensive functions were provided during construction. The only decorations on the facade of the church are three sculptures of saints in special niches.
The magnificent interior decoration was carried out by a group of decorators led by the court artist Jan Sapieha Peter Perty.
The decoration of the church impresses with its numerous snow-white bas-reliefs surrounded by floral ornaments.
Bas-reliefs from stucco were made by a team of Italian craftsmen based on sketches by Pietro Perti.
Stucco is a special type of high-quality plaster with the addition of various components. When solidified, it becomes snow-white and very durable.
All the bas-reliefs in the church have been preserved since the 17th century, without losing their qualities and appearance.
The altar in the church is two-tiered, crowned with a sculpture of God the father with angels.
Two tiers are decorated with magnificent twisted columns. In the upper tier there is a sculptural image of a crucifixion, below there are kneeling bishops. In the lower one there are large sculptures of saints. In the center is an icon of the 18th century, the patron saint of the church of Michael the Archangel.
✝ Pulpit, pulpit, made of wood, carved. The carving is also made in the style of floral ornaments in the form of a bowl resting on the wings of an eagle, tenaciously holding in its claws a scroll with the heraldry of the Brzostowski family. The pulpit is crowned with a gilded crown. The pulpit has been preserved since the 17th century.
The church was damaged in the First World War, but later, in the late 1920s, it was restored. To date, the temple is in excellent condition and is operational.
The church has an unusual architectural style - Sarmatian Baroque. Everything is clean and well maintained. The church itself was closed, so there is nothing to say about the interior. The church opens only for the duration of the service (the schedule is hanging on the doors).
Grodno region is very beautiful, there are many architectural monuments. One of them.
I advise you to visit!
Everyone was satisfied. We learned a lot of interesting facts!
The church is not very remarkable from the outside, but inside! Just a delight! So unusual that you have to see it with your own eyes! I highly recommend it!
If not the oldest, then certainly one of the oldest preserved churches in Belarus. It has been restored with high quality. The interior is fascinating. There is no intrusive gilding, but all beautiful light stucco and frescoes. Definitely worth a visit and admire.
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Pavel Sindrevich
Level 28 Local Expert
August 23, 2023
The church in Mikhalishki is the most typical and well-preserved monument of the "nostalgia of chivalry" in Belarus. Its strict, massive external forms somewhat resemble defensive and even castle architecture: two powerful towers rise above the fortified entrance, or, as it is called, the barbican. Nevertheless, the main artistic value of the church should be considered its surviving interior decoration over the centuries. With its extraordinary splendor, it contrasts sharply with the austere appearance of the church.
If the sightseeing route passes nearby, then it is worth a visit.
a beautiful Church, which was discovered quite by chance in gervyaty. I advise you to definitely look at it when traveling in the north-west of Belarus.
I was with the travel agency "Originaltourminsk" in this church. Inside, the beauty and airiness are amazing). The subtlety of style and the drawing of little things.
A very unusual temple with a unique interior stucco decoration. Sometimes it is difficult to get in when it is closed - ask the locals - they will open it, show it
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azcera
Level 6 Local Expert
February 11
Very beautiful,
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Ilya Reznikov
Level 24 Local Expert
November 4, 2019
It is very beautiful and sincere. And the stories, singing and playing of music by organist Raya Moroz were generally mesmerizingly wonderful.