Brigit's Monastery: Church of the Annunciation 1642-51

Brigit's monastery in Grodno was founded on 25 of November in 1634 by Marshal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Krishtof Veselski and his wife Alexandra. By the end of the XVIII century in the complex were built a stone church, a residential building, a fence with bramas, farm building, kailyard and garden. Bell-cappella tower was separate and existed prior to the beginning of the 1960s. 

On all sides, the monastery was fenced off from the streets by walls about five meters high, with a square plan towers at the corners. There are two gates-bramas in the wall that runs along the Molodezhnaya street. It lead to the entrances of the buildings through the small courtyards. Monastery's brama's are  the most spectacular part of the complex.

The church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the main building in the composition of monastery. It was built in 1640s. It is one-nave church with two tower with semicircular apse. Western facade dissected by sheaves of Corinthian pilasters and decorated with attic, gable, two decorative turrets, volutes and so on. Very interesting element is the frieze around the building, decorated with a strip of decorative painting. Architectural details are distinguished by their exclusivity and only vaguely resemble the classical form of Western European Baroque.

The original interior of the church has not been preserved to this days. Here was 7 altars and relics of the Saint Clement, who was a Roman soldier and was killed during the persecution of Christians in the 4th century. Grodno mayor brought his relics to the city in 1781. Pope Clement XIII gave his relics in response to the request to appoint a patron for Grodno and citizens.

Catholic church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an architecture's monument of the early Baroque with elements of the Gothic and Renaissance.


Brigit's monastery: lyamus of XVIII century

Unique building is remained in the courtyard of the monastery. It is the oldest wooden building in Belarus, built in 1630-40s.

The building was built without a single nail. Connection of all components was carried out using wooden wedges. This two-storey building made of massive bars with arched galleries on the main facade. The main facade is decorated with two-tiered gallery with a balustrade on the second floor. The architecture of the building reflected the traditions of the Belarusian building.

On the ground floor of the building was a monastery warehouse, but the second floor was served as a dormitory for the Brigit's nuns.

Relatively recently in the building was a hospital with a psychiatrist. Now the unique building is gradually destroyed.