Drisvyaty. The Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul.
Church
Belarus, Vitebsk region, Braslav district, Drisvyaty arogorodok, Zamkovaya Street, 40
Description
A church stands on the peninsula near Lake Drisvyaty, which is an example of wooden architecture. Its bell tower, pointing skyward, serves as a landmark, discernible from afar. This church was built in 1929, during the period when Drisvyaty were part of Poland. The author of the project was the famous architect, public figure and poet Leon Vitan-Dubeykovsky.
Categories
Historical
Architectural monument
Comments
Reviews to the Place
1Ольга Ерёменко
23.02.2025
The Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul in Drisvyaty is a unique monument of wooden architecture with a rich history.
The Catholic church of Saints Peter and Paul in Drisvyaty is a unique monument of wooden architecture with a rich history that began in 1514, when King Sigismund I 'The Old' donated funds for its construction.
The historical settlement of Drisvyaty was located on Castle Island, not on the shore of Lake Drisvyaty, where the modern village is located. The first Catholic church was built on this island, built in 1514 at the expense of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund I in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1622, the settlement burned down, and the temple was rebuilt on the shore.
In 1725, the church burned down again, and the Vilno voivode Ludvik Potey financed the construction of a new wooden church dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul.
In 1929, a new wooden church was built according to the project of Leon Vitan-Dubeykovsky. After the end of World War II, it functioned until 1964, after which it was closed and adapted as a warehouse.
In 1991, the church was returned to the Catholic community, and restoration work continued until 1994.
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is a monument of wooden architecture with elements of Art Nouveau style.
The church stands out for its rectangular shape and tall five-tiered bell tower. Inside the church, decorated with a coffered ceiling and ornamental paintings, there was a valuable icon of the first half of the 16th century, the 'Adoration of the Magi'. Now the icon is in the Minsk Museum of ancient Belarusian Culture.
This temple is imbued with an amazing story that survived fires, wars and even turned into a warehouse after the Second World War. Its uniqueness lies not only in its history, but also in its appearance and interior decoration.