Church of Varvarinskaya in Suhodol

Sukhodol Church of St. Barbara is a 19th-century Orthodox church in the village of Sukhodol, Kamenets District, Brest Region. The church was built in the 1860s and is the architectural dominant of the settlement. The temple is classified as a site of regional value.

Architecture of the Church of St. Barbara

The Church of St. Barbara is a stone, plastered building with three compositionally distinct volumes (narthex — main space/nave — apse). A belfry rises above the entrance narthex, emphasizing the verticality of the façade and the church’s role as a landmark. The restrained massing without excessive decor is typical of parish churches of the second half of the 19th century in Brest Polesia.

History, legends, and myths of the church

The present church, erected in 1863–1869, is recognized as an architectural monument and included in the list of historical and cultural assets of Belarus. According to some accounts, it was built anew; according to others, it was rebuilt from an earlier church.

In Sukhodol, a tradition is still passed down: in the place of today’s Church of St. Barbara there once stood a tavern that brought profit to its owner but became a source of misfortune—widespread drunkenness. One night, the women of the village gathered and burned it down, after which they proposed to erect an Orthodox shrine on the site.

In 1869 the church was consecrated in honor of St. Joseph the Hymnographer, in memory of the miraculous deliverance of Emperor Alexander II on April 4, 1866. Later documents mention it as a church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. During the years of persecution, the church was closed; only in the 1990s was it returned to the faithful and restored. On September 19, 1992, the church was consecrated in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara.

Excursions visiting the Sukhodol Church of St. Barbara

The Church of St. Barbara is convenient to include in one-day tours around Brest Region (Kamenets — Belovezhskaya Pushcha — nearby estates) with an exterior viewing and a brief account of the church. We can also arrange a private tour including a visit to the Church of St. Barbara with departure from Minsk, taking into account your preferred dates and route.