Petrikov. Holy Ascension Church.

According to legend, Petrikov was founded in the 10th century, being named after Prince Peter of Yatvyaz. Historical sources mention Petrikov since 1523 as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

The construction of a single-altar stone church was a response to the population growth in the area. The Holy Ascension Church in Petrikov was built in 1890.

However, already in 1930, the church was closed and the temple remained abandoned for a long time. In the autumn of 1940, it began to be used as a salt warehouse. In the spring of 1941, a water tower was installed here, and an artesian well provided it with water. A 5 cubic meter capacity was located on wooden supports.

During the Great Patriotic War, underground fighters had been hiding in the church since 1942. After the war, in the 1970s, a beer bar was opened here, and in the 1980s an Ice Cream parlor was located.

In 1991, the church was returned to the Orthodox community, and work began on its restoration. In the period 1991-1999, it was restored again. There is a new two-tiered iconostasis, new icons, new domes, and a solid openwork fence around the courtyard. Icons of St. Nicholas and the Savior Not Made with Hands were painted and donated by the local artist I.P. Perezhko.

Today, the Holy Ascension Church serves not only as a place for worship, but also as the center of the social life of the local community. It attracts believers and tourists who want to learn more about the spiritual history and culture of the region.