Location on the map: Picturesque town of Glubokoe
In the vast expanses of the Vitebsk region lies the picturesque town of Glubokoe. Its main attractions are two twin churches that form a remarkable architectural ensemble – Holy Trinity Church and Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. The temples are located next to each other in the historical center of the city and look very similar to each other.
Holy Trinity Church, built in 1782, at the beginning of the last century significantly changed its appearance. The reconstruction of the beginning of the 20th century did not touch the main facade of the church. It stands out for its majestic size, has a beautiful and memorable "appearance" and fits perfectly into the surrounding landscape. Its arches seem to rest against the sky itself. The Holy Trinity Church is well preserved and remains an important architectural monument of the 18th century.
Another church is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. Founded in 1639, it has long been the church of a Catholic Carmelite monastery. In 1865, after the defeat of the uprising, in which the monks took an active part, the Catholic monastery was abolished, and after a while, the church was converted into an Orthodox church. This explains its unusual appearance for churches and its similarity to the Holy Trinity Church, located nearby.
The cathedral is a valuable architectural monument of the 17th century, because it was in the architecture of this temple that the Vilna Baroque school first received its earliest expression on the territory of Belarus. The temple has four towers – this is an extremely rare technique not only for our country, but also for the whole Europe.
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin is also interesting for its dungeons. For several centuries, its cellars served as an underground tomb for monks, and the remains of the founder of the monastery, Josef Korsak, were also buried here. In 1831, the Carmelite monks supported the outbreak of the uprising, so the vault became a place to store an arsenal of weapons, treat the wounded and shelter for the rebels. Moreover, after the World War II, a cannery warehouse was located in the vaults, while the temple itself continued to work.
There is also a legend that under the central part of the city there is an extensive network of underground passages that connects the underground of the cathedral and church in the city center and the former Uniate monastery, located 3 kilometres away from the center on the outskirts of the city. When exploring the cathedral's vault, this legend has even been indirectly confirmed.
Holy Trinity Church and the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin attract the attention of many tourists, travelers and pilgrims.
Also of interest is the Catholic chapel of St. Elijah, built in the local cemetery in 1804. Today, this small temple is preserved and is in a strong, but closed state. Next to the chapel is a memorial column in honor of the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The next attraction of the city of Glubokoe is the complex of buildings of the former Uniate Basilian monastery, located on the outskirts of the city in its former suburb called Berezvechye. The church, which was part of this monastery and was built in the Vilna Baroque style, was destroyed before 1960. Not far from the complex of buildings of the former monastery, a new Orthodox women's monastery was founded, which according to historical tradition is called Berezvechsky.
Glubokoe is located in a very picturesque place. Around it and right in its borders there are five lakes at once. Many of these lakes have equipped places for tourists to relax. The modern city is rich in interesting monuments and sculptures. Hotels, cafes, restaurants and shopping centers are also located here. These circumstances successfully complement the beautiful tourist atmosphere of the city and its architectural attractions, and make it a very attractive place for travelers and tourists to relax.