Zamostye. St. Barbara's Church.

The Church of St. Barbara in Zamostye is a historical monument, which is still being debated among historians regarding the date of its construction. Some sources point to 1620, while others point to 1649.

The exterior of the church indicates that it originally served as a Calvinist church. However, in the second half of the 17th century, the Jesuit mission settled here.

Throughout its history, the temple has repeatedly passed from one religious community to another. For a short time it was in the hands of the Uniates, and after the annexation of the Belarusian lands to the Russian Empire, it became the Intercession Orthodox Church.

Since 1917, the building has been used as an outbuilding, and only in the 90s of the last century, after restoration, worship services resumed here.

The architectural style of the temple reflects the transition from the Renaissance to the early Baroque. It is characterized by the absence of towers, which is a characteristic feature of the Vilno Architectural School. The building is compact, with a high pediment of a simple shape and almost devoid of external decoration, which is also typical of Protestant churches.

The church was built at the expense of a local nobleman, Andrei Samuel Vinki-Ratomsky, and initially operated as a Calvinist church. In the second half of the 17th century, the Jesuit mission operated at the church, and in 1681-1683, the artist Jacek Khilitsky created three wall compositions on historical themes for the church.

St. Barbara's Church is a single-nave stone building consisting of a square main volume, a five-sided altar apse and a high vestibule resembling a four-pointed tower. The vestibule is topped with a triangular pediment, and an arched entrance is located below. The side walls of the apse are adjacent to the nave at an oblique angle, and the sides of the apse are adjacent to the sacristy stretched across. The church is covered with a common gable roof, above the apse passing into the hip.

The temple is currently in operation. This is an important historical monument for our country, which should be seen with your own eyes.