Velikie Knyazikovcy. The Pokrovsky church.

The first mention of the temple dates back to the period between the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1860, thanks to the efforts of Anton Andreevich Glushanovsky, the governor of the Vilna Chamber of State Property and a full state councilor, a new temple was erected. It was built of rubble stone and had a cruciform shape.

The church is made in the retrospective Russian style, which makes it unique in the context of architecture of that time. The exterior of the temple also contains elements of classicism, which is especially noticeable in the pediment located above the main entrance.

In the 1930s, the priest in the church was Vladimir Buko, who in 1939 was martyred at the hands of KPZB members.

In 1980, as a result of a fire, the temple was seriously damaged. The arson was committed by atheist Komsomol members who worked in Knyazikovtsy during the harvesting campaign.

By 1992, the church was restored and rededicated.

Today, the picturesque appearance of the Church of the Intercession is achieved through a harmonious combination of rubble stone and plastered decorative elements. The architectural composition of the temple is complemented by a fence with a ceremonial bell tower of the 2nd half of the 19th century, which gives it even greater expressiveness and completeness.

This temple not only serves as a place for worship, but is also an important cultural and historical site reflecting the architectural traditions of its time.

If you go to the town of Lipniški to see an unusual neo-Gothic church there, then you should visit the nearby village with the interesting name Velikie Knyazikovcy. As you approach the village, you will see a small stone temple on the left side of the road. This is the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. The first Orthodox church was built here in the 17th century. And in 1860, a new Orthodox church was built with the help of the manager of the Vilna Chamber of State Property, a true estate councilor, Anton Glushanowski. The church is built of broken stone, which is abundant in the area. During the time of the Polish state, Uladzimir Buko served as a priest here. In the post-war years, the church was badly damaged by fire. And after the collapse of the Soviet state, the revival of the shrine began. In front of the church you will see a brick gate. If you are lucky, you will be met by a local Orthodox priest who will politely tell you about the history of this shrine.