Zhirovichi monastery

The history of the Holy Assumption Monastery dates back to the 15th century, when the first wooden church was built in Zhirovichy. According to legend, it was here that a miraculous icon of the Mother of God appeared, after which the then-owner of Zhirovichy, treasurer Alexander Soltan, ordered a church to be built in her honor out of wood. After the building burned down in a fire in 1520, a stone church and Orthodox male monastery were founded on the same site. This happened after the icon, which had disappeared in the fire, appeared to the residents on a stone near the ash heap, whole and unharmed. To this day, many pilgrims come to see the image of the Mother of God, attributed with miraculous properties, seeking healing for their bodies and souls.

With the adoption of the Union of Brest in 1596, the monastery became a center of the Uniate religion for two centuries. Ordinary people, wealthy magnates, and even kings of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth made pilgrimages here. Historical records show that the number of pilgrims sometimes reached up to 30,000. After the third partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1839, the Holy Assumption Monastery fully returned to the Orthodox Church.

During the Second World War, German military units were stationed on the monastery grounds and ammunition depots were located there. After the departure of the occupiers, some of the buildings were given over to an agricultural technical school, and theology courses were established at the monastery, which later evolved into the Minsk Theological Seminary.

Soviet authorities did not encourage religiosity, so the second half of the 20th century was challenging for the monastery. The spiritual resilience of its inhabitants and Orthodox activists helped the monastery to withstand these challenges and, by the end of the century, it acquired the status of a center of Belarusian Orthodox culture.

How to get to the Zhirovichy Monastery?

This spiritual jewel of Belarus is located in the agrotown of Zhirovichi, situated in the Slonim district of the Grodno region. Regular buses and minibuses run here from Slonim. You can get there from Minsk via the M1 Minsk-Brest highway, following the signs, to Slonim, and then to the village of Zhirovichi. Minsk residents also have the option to come by minibus, which departs from the "Central" bus station.

Architecture of the Monastery Complex

The architectural complex of the Zhirovichy Monastery includes:

• The Holy Assumption Cathedral - the main temple, located in the center of the complex. It's a majestic structure, in the architecture of which you can see features of Baroque, Classicism, and Rococo.
• St. Nicholas Church - a small stone church, with a floor decorated with original mosaics. It is here that the famous relic - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God - is located.
• The Exaltation of the Cross Church - a monument of late Baroque architecture with elements of Classicism.
• The Epiphany Church - it houses the ancient stone on which, according to legend, the image of the Mother of God was revealed for the second time.
• St. George Church - a monument of wooden architecture.
• The Bell Tower - in 2022, a huge bell weighing 14 tons was delivered here, which is the largest bell in Belarus.
• Theological Seminary - a stone building erected by the Uniates in the early 18th century, which was later reconstructed. Today, students preparing to dedicate their lives to serving God study here.

What makes the monastery interesting today?

Currently, the Zhirovichy Holy Assumption Male Monastery continues to be the Orthodox center of the region. It is one of the most visited tourist places in Belarus. Its grounds house a beautiful park, a pond, a bookshop, a souvenir store, a bakery, and a museum that tells the history of the monastery complex, its founders, and cultural figures. Tourists and visitors can attend excursions and services, dine in the monastery's refectory, and taste the delicious freshly baked bread. With prior arrangement, travelers can stay overnight in exchange for a donation.

The monastery's activities are not limited to religious services. The monastery constantly organizes spiritual festivals, concerts, Orthodox youth gatherings, exhibitions, and other cultural events. For instance, on May 20, a traditional festival dedicated to the apparition of the icon of the Mother of God will take place in Zhirovichy. To honor the holy image, hundreds of pilgrims come here every year.

You don't have to be a religious person to feel that the Zhirovichy Holy Assumption Male Monastery is an extraordinary place of power, which has absorbed the beauty of nature, the grandeur of architecture, and the spiritual heritage of Belarus. Come to Zhirovichy to enjoy the soothing atmosphere, feel the tranquility, and take a break from the informational noise of the outside world.