Spot on the map: Church of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The last monument of the Vilna Baroque in eastern Europe. Frescoes that preserve history

The Carmelite Church of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a valuable architectural monument of Mstislavl. It is included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus.

No tourist route along Mstislavl is complete without visiting this Catholic church. Any road will take there tourists and guests of Mstislavl region, if they walk from the city center towards Castle Hill.

This beautiful, snow-white stone temple is accessible to the human eye from any corner of the city. Large, bright, neat and without any frills, it is located in such a way that it is impossible not to notice it. The architectural monument impresses with its greatness. Tourists from different countries are sure that it could brighten any city.

The Catholic church at the foot of Castle Hill was built in 1614. Over the long history of Mstislavl as a border town, it has changed hands from Smolensk to Lithuanian rulers and back. Catholic orders have always sought to gain a foothold in the border outpost, which is why they built monasteries and temples here. The first Catholic church built on the territory of the city was made of wood. In 1617-1637, a large brick building was constructed in its place. It was consecrated as a temple at the Carmelite monastery. At the end of the 18th century, it was significantly rebuilt by the famous architect and creator of the Vilna Baroque, Johann Howitz. The architect redesigned the facade decor and changed the shape of the roof. Thus, remaining in the same outlines, the temple acquired an unusual lightness and grandeur, which are characteristic of the Vilna Baroque style. In 1750, the church was rededicated in honor of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In Soviet times, the Ascension Carmelite Church was closed. It stood empty and dilapidated, which certainly affected its condition. There was a storage facility in the building for a while. Later it was decided to restore the iconic monument. By the way, according to historical data, by the end of the XIX century, 568 Catholics lived in Mstislavl. In addition, the church had one of the best organs in Europe, and the windows were decorated with mosaic stained glass windows.

Today, the main value of the Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary are frescoes. They cover the walls entirely and preserve a centuries-old history. According to experts of the regional museum, about 20 frescoes have been preserved in the church, which reflect both traditional religious and secular subjects of history. Some of them are the only ones of their kind in Belarus.

The Carmelite Church belongs to the Catholic community of the city. Festive liturgies and masses are held in the chapel of the church. By the way, in 2020, the ancient wooden crucifixion of Jesus Christ returned to the Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.

But now the doors of the architectural monument are closed for tourists. Earlier, during sightseeing tour, guests of the city hurried to climb a very steep staircase to the towers of the building to see the beautiful views of Mstislavl. Perhaps someday tourists will be able to visit these places again.

2021 was the year of discoveries. Excavations were carried out in the Carmelite church. The team of archaeologists made one small excavation site in the middle of the central nave. A burial of monks and a fresco were found at a two-meter depth.

Currently, the archaeological excavations have been completed.

Perhaps one day archaeologists will return here again to discover new secrets of this unique place, and the missing gaps in the centuries-old history of Mstislavl will be closed.

Welcome to Belarus!