Brazdetskaya Sloboda. Ruins of St. Nicholas Church.
Church
Belarus, Vitebsk region, Chashnik district, Brazdetskaya Sloboda village
Description
The Church of St. Nicholas in Brazdetskaya Sloboda is an architectural monument that has survived to this day only in the form of ruins. This is the main attraction of the village. Built in the second half of the 19th century, it was once a place of prayer and hope, but eventually turned into a warehouse. Today, only bare walls remain of its former greatness, which, nevertheless, continue to preserve history.
Categories
Ruins
Historical
Architectural monument
Comments
Reviews to the Place
1Ольга Ерёменко
04.03.2025
The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is an architectural monument of late classicism.
The Orthodox church in this area was built of brick in the first half of the 19th century, and served as a collective farm storage facility until the 90s of the 20th century. It's in a state of decline these days.
The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is a striking example of late Classicism architecture. The basis of its design is a cross-domed space, which is adjacent to a three-tiered square bell tower topped with a dome with a crown. The nave of the temple is dominated by a powerful cylindrical drum, which ended with a dome that has not survived to this day. The facades of the building were decorated with rectangular window openings with triangular arches and pilasters.
The architectural elements that have survived to the present day are characteristic of classicism. Although the original appearance of the temple is difficult to restore, some details, such as strict proportions and harmony of lines, are still discernible in the dilapidated walls. An interesting detail is the stork's nest, located on the site of the destroyed bell tower. This symbolic element gives the building a special flavor, because the stork is associated with home and comfort, and the temple, even in ruins, remains the spiritual center of this place.
The road to the church runs along the Ulla River. Although it's a broken dirt road, it's worth driving through. Just a five-minute drive from Chashniki, you will find yourself at these mysterious ruins.
When you come here, you can't help but think about the past... The silence, the walls that have survived for decades, the icon above the entrance, left by someone who is not indifferent. There is no luxury here, no gilded domes, just damp bricks and the wind blowing through the openings. But there is an opportunity to imagine what the temple was once like, and what it could have become if fate had ordered otherwise.
If you find yourself in this area, be sure to check here. And then, visit the main pearl of the region - the White Church!