Church of St. Michael in Synkavičy, Orthodox church in Synkavičy, Belarus
The Church of St. Michael in Synkavičy is an Orthodox place of worship made of brick in the village of the same name in western Belarus and belongs to the country's cultural heritage. Four towers rise at the corners, two round and two angular Gothic ones, while battlements and arrow slits mark the entire wall surface.
Construction began in the late 15th century and was completed in the early 16th century as both a religious center and a fortified structure. During times of war the building offered shelter and functioned at the same time as a sacred refuge for the community.
The name Synkavičy comes from an old Slavic root and the building combines Orthodox worship with a fortified brick structure to this day. Believers use the space for liturgy while visitors notice the walls and towers as evidence of medieval craftsmanship in Belarus.
The site is located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of Slonim and is accessible during Orthodox services. Since it is a protected cultural monument visitors should be respectful of ongoing ceremonies.
The walls contain encoded numbers made from burnt bricks whose meaning remains mysterious to this day. Some interpret these markings as pointing to the year 1320 but no certain explanation exists.
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