The Church of St. Nicholas is a monument of Baroque architecture with Renaissance features and elements of defensive architecture. It is a stone three-nave three-tower basilica. In the arches of the church there is still a crypt with the burials of representatives of the clan of the dukes Radzivils.

The first wooden church in Mir was built at the beginning of the XVI century. In its place the Radzivils built a new, also wooden, Catholic Сhurch of St. Nicholas in 1585.

The stone Catholic church, sponsored by Duke Mikalaj Kryštap Radzivil Sirotka, was erected in 1599–1605. The authorship of the project is attributed to the famous architect of Italian origin Giovanni Maria Bernardoni. There was a hospital and a parish school for children at the Catholic church.

The buildings of the Catholic church complex were badly damaged during the war between Russia and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1654–1667 and during the Northern War. In 1710, Duke Michal Kazimir Radzivil Rybańka rebuilt the church, rectory, two flankers, household buildings, and ordered to cast the large bell «Karaĺ» in honor of the victory over the Swedes.

In 1846, a major renovation of the Catholic Church of St. Nicholas was carried out with funds collected by the famous poet Uladzislaŭ Syrakomlia.

After the uprising of 1863–1864, the Catholic Church of St. Nicholas was closed by the Russian authorities, and in 1865 it was converted into an Orthodox church. Only in 1921, after the affiliation of Western Belarus into Poland, the Catholic church was returned to the Catholics and operated until the 40s of the XX century.

After the Second World War, in accordance with the anti-religious policies of the Soviet leadership, the Сhurch of St. Nicholas was closed. The temple stood for decades in untidy condition. During this time, two upper tiers of the tower and two round circular turrets were destroyed.

In the 70s of the XX century, the Catholic church got the status of a monument of architecture of republican significance, its restoration began. In 1990, the Catholic church was returned to believers. For now, the Catholic Сhurch of St. Nicholas is a historical and cultural value of the Republic of Belarus of the first category.

Publication date: 17.08.2020.

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