Chizhevichi. Church of the Intercession.

   In the suburbs of Soligorsk there is a place called Chizhevichi, which has preserved the wooden Church of the Intercession of the 18th century. Previously, Chizhevichi did not have its own church, and Orthodox believers belonged to a parish in a neighboring town.

        After joining the Russian Empire, the Orthodox Church in Chizhevichi was erected by order of Empress Catherine II. The church was consecrated in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. In 1807, the church burned down during a fire, but was soon rebuilt at the expense of the parish. In 1808, the temple started working again.

     The parish of the Church of the Intercession included seven nearby villages and towns. The church was renovated several times during the 19th century. During the time of Emperor Alexander II, a bell tower with 12 bells was built in 1861.

        Since 1913, John Pankratovich began serving as a priest at the church. Father John served at the church until its closure in Soviet times in 1934. The church was closed, and the 19th-century iconostasis was dismantled and burned in the square in front of the shrine. John Pankratovich was arrested. A warehouse was built in the building itself.

      During the Great Patriotic War, the church started working again. The building was renovated in 1989.

      In 1995, a new church of St. John the Baptist was built next to the ancient Church of the Intercession. An administrative building has also been built at the church, where there is a sunday school and a library.