Podgornaya. St. Anthony's Church.

In the village of Podgornaya, Baranovichi district, there is a stone Orthodox church, which was consecrated in honor of St. Anthony. It was first documented in the 16th century during the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and was called Gavinovichi at that time. The local estate belonged to Anna Ilyinichna, and then to Sofia Janovna Victarina. Then Gavrila Kambulatovich was in charge.

After the second partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as part of the Russian Empire. In 1817, the Orthodox stone church of St. Anthony was built. According to other sources, the temple was built in 1827. At first, the shrine belonged to Catholic believers and was built as a church. The sponsor of the construction of the church was the landowner Anthony Svezhinsky. There were two parish schools at the church and there was a parish trusteeship. The parish in Podgornaya included five nearby villages.

The monument was erected in the classical style. The building is rectangular in plan, which is covered with a gable roof. The interior features a wooden iconostasis and ancient icons from the 18th and 19th centuries.: "The Mother of God with a Child", "The Savior in Prison" and "The Last Supper". A stone two-tiered bell tower has been erected in front of the church.

Built in the 18th century in the village, this church was originally a church. After the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the incorporation of the Belarusian lands into the Russian Empire, the building was rededicated as an Orthodox church. It has been rebuilt several times, the last reconstruction dates back to 1817.

This period was a turning point for Belarus. Joining Russia had a significant impact on cultural life, including architecture. Many temples began to be built in the classical style, which is characterized by strict forms, logical layout and minimalism in decoration. St. Anthony's Church is a vivid example of this style.

The building is rectangular in shape with meter-high walls, plastered and decorated with rectangular windows. The entrance is decorated through a small vestibule. The temple is built of rubble stone, which gives it a unique appearance. This material was appreciated for its expressiveness and harmony with nature.

Next to the church there is a belfry, which originally stood on four columns, which were later laid.

Inside the temple, there is a wooden iconostasis with icons, in front of which generations of local residents prayed. The images "The Last Supper", "The Savior in Prison" and "The Virgin with the Child" are of particular value.

The old cemetery and the ruins of the chapel remind of the Catholic past of the temple.

The church was founded by the owners of the Vidukhovsky estate, whose estate was located nearby. Today, a nursing hospital is located in its place.

This is a very beautiful and atypical Orthodox church, the architecture of which is determined by its Catholic past. Come and see!