Once an ancient town Astroŭna that Biešankovičy district had all the privileges guaranteed by the Magdeburg Rights, as at the beginning of the last century, still resembled the remains of the local town hall. Unfortunately, at present time of past glory Astroŭna can recall only a solid building of the former church, which the Orthodox Church has once again rebuilds in its own way as the Holy Trinity Church.
Says knowledgeable in historical issues Viciebsk ethnographer Mikhail Pavlov, Astroŭna church, monument of the 16th century - one of those that once were in the vicinity of Viciebsk, "Rebuilding the cathedral being Orthodox community without any compliance with the International Charter of restoration. All executed so far correspond to the work unless the level of understanding of the issue of the local Orthodox community. I am confident that this monument is still on the account is not delivered, and no coherent restoration project there. The government is asleep or does not want to pay any attention to it. Out of the building, and in such cases the standard label that tells them that the building is of historical value and protected by the state. Instead, it is attached to the wall of a home-made sign with any content."
Astroŭna church was built in honor of the famous victory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania over the Muscovite troops in the battles of Čašniki on Ivan the field in 1564 and under the river Krapiŭna near Vorša in 1514.
Construction of the church patronized the Grand Duke and King Sigismund Augustus, who made and its main sponsor. The gift was given to the church by King ornate icon of the Virgin. Somewhere around 1620 Mścisłaŭ governor Alexander Sapieha built next to the church of the monastery, where the monks invited the Dominican Order.
Unless otherwise go into the details, the walls of the cathedral may seem ordinary pseudo-Russian building of the XIX century. But it only seems. Closer inspection allows you to emphasize architectural details that prove far more ancient origin of the monument: outside the visible features of the Renaissance, the facade - classicism, the interior - in the Baroque style.
Despite his age, the church well preserved, although, of course, deserves close attention from the public and, above all, the state. The walls, the thickness of which is more than one and a half meters, have various types of masonry from the Gothic in the lower part of the building in the Renaissance and simple pilasters, to the binder in the west wall. Paying attention to these details, it can be assumed that the cathedral during its almost five hundred years of existence rebuilt many times. Apparently, the first cathedral was built in the Gothic style, but then, somewhere in the second half of XVI - early XVII centuries. acquired Renaissance features, and about the middle of the XVIII century. interior of the church was decorated with elements of baroque plastics. At the end of the century building it acquired externally typical signs of classicism. After the suppression of the uprising 1863 - 1864 years Kastus Kalinouski church rebuilt in the Orthodox Church, moving the altar to the east and the former apse raised in the porch, erecting over him in pseudo-style bell tower.
"To recreate the original look of the church is quite difficult, it will require a thorough investigation. But even a cursory examination shows extreme value Astroŭna cathedral which reflects the main stages of development and the history of architecture of Belarus. In the historical sense, the church is a national shrine, a reminder of the heroic struggle of our ancestors for independence. Historical and cultural values of the town Astroŭna increased by the fact that here was born the famous figure of the European Middle Ages, intellectual ideologue of the restoration of independence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Lev Sapieha, one of the creators of the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1588. Looking at this fact, the problem of the modern restoration of religious buildings should not be idle interest a handful of concerned citizens, it must become a concern of the state is here, of course, if the State takes care of the future and longevity" - summed up the local historian Mikhail Pavlov.
Vitebsk Spring
