The history of the St. Nicholas Church dates back several centuries. The first Orthodox church in Smaliavičy was built under the Astrožskis princes. Since then, the shrine disappeared from the city plan several times was rebuilt.

The first Orthodox church in Smaliavičy was built in the early 16th century by the owner of the settlement, Prince Kanstancin Astrožski. According to historical sources, Prince Kanstancin Astrožski not only built a church in Smaliavičy, but gave it land, built a house for the priest and obliged local parishioners to financially support the new temple.

At the time of the spread of Uniatism in the Belarusian lands in the 17th–18th centuries Smaliavičy no longer belonged to the Astrožskis, but Radzivils. And although the Radzivils were Protestants, they contributed to the fact that the St. Nicholas Church remained Orthodox until 1745, and only then it became a Uniate church.

Documents from the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century confirm that at that time there was a church in Smaliavičy built by Prince Kanstancin Astrožski. The church was wooden and decorated with three domes. There was an organ in the temple at that time. After the liquidation of the Uniate Church in Belarus in 1839, the St. Nicholas Church became Orthodox again.

In the second half of the 19th century, the St. Nicholas Church was renovated twice, but by the end of the 19th century the building fell into disrepair. As a result, it was decided to start raising funds for the construction of a new wooden church. The new church was built in 1909 and was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In the 30s of the 20th century, in line with the anti-religious policy of the Soviet regime, St. Nicholas Church was closed and soon destroyed.

The modern brick St. Nicholas Church was built in the early 21st century in the independent Belarus. It is located in the city center.

Publication date: 21.04.2022.

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