One of the oldest Catholic churches of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The place of marriage of Jahajla with Sof'ja Haĺšanskaja and the christening of Adam Mickievič.

The Navahrudak cathedral Catholic church rises at the foot of the Castle Hill. This temple was founded by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vitaŭt in 1395. Throughout its history, the Catholic church has witnessed numerous historical events. Paying tribute to the status of Navahrudak as the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the King of Poland, Jahajla, married to the young Belarusian aristocrat Sof'ja Haĺšanskaja exactly here. Their children continued the Jahajlavičs’ dynasty.

There is a memorial plaque in the temple. It tells about the heroic events of the battle with the Turks at Chacin in 1621, where the Navahrudak banner participated. The city castellan of that time, Jan Rudamina-Dusiacki, established a memorial plaque in memory of his dead friends.

The Catholic church lasted in the Gothic style until the beginning of the XVIII century. In the years 1712–1740 it was rebuilt in the early Baroque style. In 1799, the future famous poet Adam Mickievič was christened in the renovated Catholic church building.

In the second half of the XIX century, the Catholic church was closed by order of the Russian administration. This temple was re-consecrated only in 1922, when Western Belarus became part of Poland.

The Second World War also left its mark on the history of the temple. 11 Nazarethan sisters tortured by the Nazis were buried in it.

Today Navahrudak Catholic Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is cathedral.

Publication date: 23.02.2021.

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