Vitebsk. Annunciation Church.

The Annunciation Church is not only the oldest temple in Vitebsk, but also one of the oldest buildings in the city. The exact time of construction is unknown. According to the city chronicle, the temple was erected in the year of the foundation of the city of Vitebsk (974) by Princess Olga. Archaeologists have established that the church was built between 1120 and 1130.

According to legend, Prince Alexander Nevsky and Princess Alexandra were engaged here.

During its existence for almost nine centuries, the temple was rebuilt several times.

During the Northern War, the church was seriously damaged and then rebuilt in the Baroque style. For some time it belonged to the Uniate Church.

During the Great Patriotic War, the church was partially destroyed and remained in this state until 1961. In December 1961, by order of the authorities, it was blown up. Local residents staged a protest and this saved the church from complete destruction.

Only in 1977, the surviving fragments of the foundation and fragments of the temple's masonry were preserved. And only since 1993, the church began to be restored and renovated. By 1998, it was restored, returning to its original appearance of the 12th century.

Today the temple pleases us with its interior decoration. The wall paintings are made in the Byzantine style, on the vaults of the temple there are full-length images of saints. The architecture of the temple is very strict and laconic. Next to the church there is also a small church of St. Alexander Nevsky, built in the 1990s and a very unusual bell tower.

A beautiful and quiet temple with such a difficult historical fate is located in a beautiful picturesque place on the river bank. This is the city's landmark that you must definitely visit when coming to Vitebsk.