Hello everybody! Sometimes, without expecting it, I stumble upon the majestic architecture of the past. Being near the village of Pirevichi, I noticed a sign indicating the direction to an architectural landmark. Succumbing to curiosity, I decided to find out what is hidden inside this village. soon my interest was rewarded and the Temple of All Saints appeared before my eyes. The majestic red brick building stands out among the unremarkable rural houses. I decided to get acquainted with the architectural find. Despite the fact that the doors of the temple were locked, I managed to get aesthetic pleasure and learn the interesting history of this place.
The village of Pirevichi was a small settlement for a long time. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the local population exceeded a thousand people and there was a need for their own church. The main investor was the widow of the Privy Councilor Alexander Rogovich. Many local residents took part in the construction of the temple. The main material - red brick was brought from St. Petersburg, and the masonry mortar was fastened in the most unusual way. In order to strengthen the cement mortar, the builders used chicken eggs. The villagers voluntarily provided chicken eggs during the construction of the Temple. According to legend, it was thanks to this unusual "recipe" that the walls were able to survive the war and the test of time. This version also has scientific explanations.
Church of All Saints in the village of Pirevichi is a 120-year-old historical monument of architecture. It was built in 1902, was closed several times and partially destroyed during the German occupation. During the reign of the Bolsheviks, for some time the building of the shrine was used as a warehouse for collective farm property. But the main feature of the Temple of All Saints is its unique architectural style. The combination of Neo-Russian (Moscow) style and ancient Russian architecture is practically not found on the territory of Belarus.
The thickness of the walls of the temple is more than one meter, and the inner area is about 500 square meters. Thanks to these parameters, there are perfect acoustics inside the church. The building has an elongated cruciform shape dominated by a huge cube of the prayer hall. The Pirevsky Temple has two domes, the main one of which is impressive in size and decorated with parapets.
A large number of external elements of the Temple were borrowed from the style of ancient Russian architecture. The combination of small details of the exterior decoration, high windows with keel-shaped architraves create a unique style and excellent perception. There are entrances to the shrine from three sides. The main entrance has a large brick porch with arched openings, and two side entrances are placed at an angle to the axis of the building. The lower parts of the walls are lined with ceramic tiles.
Until the 1990s, the temple was intended to be permanently closed, but after the decision was changed - the authorities gave a decision to repair the building. Slowly but surely, the Temple began to take on its own appearance, but it is far from ideal. There is no money for the final restoration, and many elements and interior decoration require serious investments and repairs. It is interesting that right behind the Temple there are residential buildings and there is a small garden.
According to one of the legends, there was an underground passage under the Pirevsky Temple of All Saints, which existed during the war years. On it it was possible to go beyond the boundaries of the village. However, local residents dug underground with their own hands. They did this in order not to provoke the German occupiers. The temple in the village of Pirevichi left indelible impressions on me. This is a majestic architectural creation with an interesting history and facts. But if no action is taken, then we may lose this architectural splendor.
Photo information:
Author:
Camera: Nikon D5200
Location: Pirevichi village, Belarus
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