Its history began in 1624, when Hristofor Hodkevich invited the Dominicans to the city and built a wooden church of St. Hyacinth for them.
A century later, a stone church was built on the site of the wooden one. But in 1751, it was almost completely destroyed by fire. The St. Michael the Archangel Church was restored only in 1805, and a bell tower was built at the same time (it has not survived to this day). In 1831, the church burned down again. After the uprising of 1832, the tsarist authorities closed the educational institution attached to it.
Restored in 1848, the church acquired features of late Classicism. In 1922, with the arrival of Polish authorities, it became a cathedral. In 1948, the church was taken from the faithful and turned into a shop and grain storage. During Soviet times, it was not restored and gradually fell into ruin. The St. Michael the Archangel Church was returned to the parishioners only in 1993.
Let's look inside: stucco, ancient paintings, and the main shrine — the icon of St. Michael the Archangel. It was painted back in the mid-17th century. And there is also an organ here, which is about 200 years old!
You go down — and there are real cellars. The excursion to the St. Michael the Archangel Church has now reached the crypt. You walk on floors that remember the steps of 17th-century monks. The ancient dungeons stretch for a third of the church. It took three years to open them!
The most valuable thing here is the atmosphere that you enter when you descend into the crypt. In the oldest part of the church, you will touch the history of those who stood at its origins: the Hodkevich family — the patrons who founded the church 400 years ago, and the Dominican monks who lived and served in it. Their remains rest here, beneath your feet!
And in the crypt, a small but very interesting exhibition of old items that belonged to the church awaits you. Clocks, books, utensils — silent witnesses of four centuries.
You feel something inexplicable here. A slight shiver. The feeling that time has stopped. This is not just an excursion — it is a face-to-face encounter with history!
St. Michael the Archangel Church is a popular site for tourist routes in Belarus. An excursion from Minsk to Navahrudak offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an ancient city, learn its rich history, and visit one of the most important architectural landmarks in the country. Book an excursion and visit St. Michael the Archangel Church as part of these tours: Excursion Dorogoy zamkov: Mir — Navahrudak — Lida, Excursion Art and Craft (Navahrudak — Berezovka), Excursion In the Footsteps of Adam Mickiewicz.
