Church of the Mother of God Shkaplerna in Myadel

The Church of Our Lady of the Scapular in Myadel is a unique monument of late Baroque architecture with Rococo elements. Built in 1754, it is part of the Budslav Deanery of the Minsk-Mogilev Archdiocese. The church was founded at the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites and is included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of Belarus.

Historical Roots

The history of the church dates back to 1457 when the Polotsk governor Andrei Sakovich allocated funds for its construction. Later, in 1754, Antoni Koschitz, the owner of Stary Myadel, built a stone church and monastery for the Carmelites.

Challenging Times

After the Polish Uprising of 1830, Carmelite monasteries in Belarus were closed, and the church changed owners multiple times. In the 19th century, it was handed over to the Orthodox Church, and during the Soviet era, it was used as a warehouse.

The Return of the Holy Place

In 1989, the church was returned to the Catholic Church. In 2019, relics of saints, walled up by monks in 1940, were discovered within its walls. Today, restoration work is ongoing.

Architectural Features

The church is located on a picturesque hill near a lake. Its octagonal dome makes it unique among Belarusian churches. The interior walls were once decorated with frescoes, of which only fragments remain.

Excursions in Belarus

You can visit this unique church as part of excursions in Belarus: Excursion Blue Necklace of the Naroch Region; Excursion History and Traditions: Apothecary Garden and Winery in Ilovo