The small village of Synkovichi is located in neighboring Belarus. What is special, it would seem, she might be interested in? However, not only Belarusians go to Synkovichi, but also residents of other countries. The thing is that there is a temple in the village. And in this church in Synkovichi there is the icon "The Tsaritsa", the rumor about which has truly spread all over the world.
St. Michael's Church
Before telling the story about the miraculous icon (and the icon "The Tsaritsa" in the Synkovichk church is really wonderful, there can be no doubt about it), let's get acquainted at least briefly with the history of the sanctuary in which it is located. The locals simply call the holy place - St. Michael's Church, but its full official name is the Church of St. Michael the Archangel. This is the oldest defensive temple in the country. What does defensive mean? This means that the cathedral has battle towers (four pieces) with loopholes, through which the protection of the temple and the surrounding territory was carried out in the turbulent formertimes.
The exact date of the "birth" of the church in Synkovichi no one now knows, but it is believed that it was erected at the very beginning of the fifteenth century. However, some evidence points to its earlier appearance. Be that as it may, it is unlikely that this information will be reliably established today, but the fact that the temple is known throughout the world for the miraculous icon stored in it is an indisputable fact.
Icon "The Tsaritsa"
The church in Synkovichi (we will tell you about the schedule, address and other important information about the church a little later) is the proud owner of a copy of the above icon. It was made especially for this temple. The original is located in Greece, on Mount Athos (a copy was also written there). What is this icon famous for and what does it represent?
The icon "The Tsaritsa" is an icon of the Mother of God. The Mother of God is depicted in red robes, with a baby in her arms and angels behind her. The icon was painted in the seventeenth century specifically for one of the monasteries - the male Orthodox on Mount Athos.
After a while, it turned out that the icon works wonders. It helps in the fight against cancer - it heals those who already seem to have no chance. She also relieves drug and alcohol addiction - there are many cases of parents turning to the icon for help for their children.
In Synkovichi, the icon "The Tsaritsa" - or rather, hera copy (or rather, a list) - appeared not so long ago. This happened already in the coming century, or to be more precise, twelve years ago, in 2006. Then father Arseniy - the rector of the temple to this day - acquired a list for his church. And since then, the flow of pilgrims to the miraculous icon has not dried up.
Approaching the temple
Now let's talk a little more about the Belarusian church with the icon "The Tsaritsa" in Synkovichi. This is not the only temple where there is a copy of the miraculous icon (there are many of them all over the world; "casts" from the original icon began to be made after the rumor about its miraculous abilities spread). Although it is of the greatest interest and the greatest significance, it is far from the only thing this church is famous for.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel: what makes it special
A considerable number of different faces have been collected in the temple, and not only the icon "The Tsaritsa" is especially revered among them. In the church in Synkovichi, the images of St. Michael the Archangel, the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, the list of the icons of the Mother of God "Zhirovichskaya", "Czestochowa" and so on are especially revered. In general, it is not in vain that they say that no icon has a "specialization" (it cannot be said that this image will help in the request, but that one will not). The main thing is to turn to God in your prayers and requests and be sincere in your soul, regardless of which icon a person approaches.
But back to the Synkovichi church. She is famous, in addition to herbeautiful images, and the unusual sound of bells. They shimmer into five different "voices", as if calling to each other. These bells were cast according to a special technology especially for St. Michael's Church. More such "voices" and such an amazing sound cannot be found in any Belarusian church.
The acoustics in the church are also good - not every church can boast of this: the singing of prayers scatters throughout the territory and is perfectly audible in every corner of the holy place. They say it has been like this since the most ancient times - old voice books have been preserved.
A little about the history of the church
Today, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel is Orthodox, but this was not always the case. In the mid-twenties of the last century, the church passed into the hands of Catholics: a Greek Catholic parish defended it for itself. St. Michael's Church belonged to the Catholics for quite a long time: until the end of the fifties of the last century.
During the Second World War, the temple was active, but hard times came after it. Devastation reigned everywhere, there were no funds to restore everything destroyed by the war. What can we say about the maintenance of the church, which also required money! In general, the local population refused the temple. It was closed, and the premises - both the church itself and the bell tower standing nearby - began to be used as a granary and warehouse.
Only in the early nineties of the last century, the church was revived and returned to the bosom of Orthodoxy. Since then, the doors of St. Michael's Church have been open to everyone. Let's talk further about the miracles performed by the icon "The Tsaritsa" inChurch of Synkovichi, the opening hours of the temple and the schedule of services.
Book of testimonies of miracles of healing
This is the name of the book kept in the sanctuary, which is a genuine document that captures on its pages the history of miracles that have happened thanks to the icon "The Tsaritsa". One of the most famous and transmitted to everyone around tells about a woman who went to Poland to her sick mother. She had been ill for a very long time, she was seriously ill, she was bedridden and, according to the doctors, had no chance. The daughter had not visited her for a long time and, having stopped on the way to the Synkovichi church, she repented of this before the icon of the Mother of God and said a prayer in which she asked to find her mother alive. She not only caught her alive - a day later the elderly lady got out of bed completely he althy.
A lot of cases are described in the aforementioned book, when couples for whom the diagnosis of "infertility" sounded, after praying in front of the icon "The Tsaritsa", became happy parents of absolutely he althy babies. Often there are also stories about recovery from drunkenness, drug addiction, serious illnesses - including cancer. All these cases, described in the book and available for reading, explain why the above-named icon is so richly decorated with jewelry - mostly gold: gold is left as a thank you by the "patients" who have felt it.
By the way, it is not difficult to see the icon among other faces in the temple - it is located on the left hand, if you standfacing the altar. However, even without knowing its exact location among the images, it will not be possible to miss it: as if it itself attracts the eye and legs. Such is she, the icon "The Tsaritsa".
Phone and opening hours of the church in Synkovichi
The doors of the temple are open for parishioners every day, except Monday, in any weather. You can come as early as 9 am - it is at this time that services begin in the Synkovichi church with the icon "The Tsaritsa". Operating time - up to four hours.
In addition to attending worship services, you can order any prayer service in the temple, light a candle or collect holy water. The latter, by the way, can be done on your own, if you bring an empty container with you - a wonderful source is located next to the temple. There is also a covered font with two compartments - deeper and shallower. And nearby there are gazebos for relaxation.
As for the phone number by which you can contact the church, it is available to everyone on the website of the Grodno diocese (Michael's Church belongs to it) in the appropriate section.
Church services
In general, services are held in St. Michael's Church on Sundays and holidays. But for the icon "The Tsaritsa" in the Church of the Synkovichi, the schedule of services is different, special. It has already been repeatedly mentioned above that from the very moment this icon appeared in this Belarusian church, the flow of visitors to it has not decreased.
And therefore, thanks to the same rector of the sanctuary, Father Arseny, for services before the "All-Tsaritsa"two special days were singled out: first, the first Friday of the month, and then the third Saturday was added to it. On Fridays, they ask for healing from oncology, on Saturdays - from drug addiction and drunkenness. Divine services begin at 9 am, they are preceded by an all-night vigil (from 5 pm).
Michael Church Address
How to find the famous temple with the icon "The Tsaritsa"? Where is the church in Synkovichi? It is located in a wasteland right behind the village, you can’t miss it - the domes go quite high into the sky. The village itself is located very close to the city of Slonim - the turn to it can be seen ten kilometers from there.
Interesting facts
- It is the earliest building of the Gothic style in Belarus.
- There used to be a crypt under the church.
- There is a small headstone in the courtyard. This is a monument to the wife and newborn baby of the then rector of the sanctuary who died in the seventies of the nineteenth century.
- Tours are offered at the temple, but they should be arranged in advance.
- Two years ago the church was robbed, but the icon "The Tsaritsa" remained untouched.
The Church in Synkovichi and the icon "The Tsaritsa" - this is the place and the sight that everyone is recommended to visit and see.
