Pokrovskaya church in Kletsk

The Intercession Church in Kletsk is an outstanding monument of 19th-century Orthodox architecture, located in the center of the Kletsk cemetery. Built between 1876 and 1879 on the site of an earlier wooden church, it is listed in the State Register of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus as a site of regional significance. The church belongs to the Kletsk Deanery of the Slutsk Diocese and remains active to this day.

History

The first church at this site was mentioned in 1626 as the Ascension Church, located at the entrance to the town from the direction of Nesvizh. It was a wooden, five-domed structure of impressive size, capable of accommodating up to 1,500 people. Over time, the temple became known as the Intercession Church, and the surrounding area was transformed into the town's main cemetery. Despite numerous attempts to restore the old building, only in 1876 did construction begin on a new brick church, designed by the provincial architect. The work was completed by Nesvizh master Wolf Andrusir, who built more than 60 churches in the region.

Architecture

The Intercession Church is a vivid example of the Russian architectural style. Its symmetrical composition includes a bell tower, refectory, cube-shaped prayer hall, and an eastern apse. The central structure is covered with a hipped roof and a wooden octagonal drum, topped with a tent and onion dome. Notable features include the three-tiered bell tower with similar design elements, a graceful wooden porch with stairs made of pink limestone, rectangular windows in simple casings, and a metal ornamental cornice. The church houses a revered icon of the Virgin «Hodegetria», brought from Nesvizh in the 18th century and restored in 2010.

Excursions

The Intercession Church in Kletsk can be visited as part of an individual tour from Minsk with stops at Orthodox holy sites in the Minsk Region. You can book a private tour to explore the spiritual and architectural heritage of the region, including a visit to the Intercession Church in Kletsk — one of the most important churches in the southern part of the Minsk Region.