Holy Dormition Monastery in Zhirovichi
   Photo: Holy Assumption Monastery in Zhirovichi

Holy Assumption Zhirovichi Stauropegial Monastery - the most important holy abode of modern Belarus. The monastery in its present form was built in XVII-XVIII centuries. The village grew up around the monastery Zhirovichi.

With the emergence of the monastery linked to one ancient legend related to the end of the XV century. Grazing sheep herders in the forest looking for the sheep gone astray, when he noticed on growing under the hill near the stream of wild pear Mother of God. They removed the icon from the tree and carried it to his master Alexander Soltani. The owner did not believe the story told by shepherds, but for the time being decided to lock icon to the chest. The next morning the icon was not in the trunk. Then the landlord called his shepherds and told them to go into the forest to the place where the icon was found. She found the same pear. And then Mr. devout believer in miracles, and decided to build on the place where the icon was found, the church.

In 1520 the monastery was burned down by a violent fire. What do you think, it was burned and the miraculous icon, but it was attained by a miracle. Play in the woods the children saw the Virgin Mary sitting on a rock, in whose hands was Zhirovichi miraculous icon. The children were frightened and ran away, but when they came back to the priest, and saw the stone is printed on the feet and palms of the Virgin.

In 1613, the wooden Church of the Assumption was transferred Basilian monks who built the monastery and the temple of stone, that survived with minor modifications. In 1839, with the highest permission of Emperor Nicholas I the whole monastery, led by Bishop Joseph Semashko converted to Orthodoxy.

In Soviet times, the monastery was not only closed, but for a while it worked seminary, to prepare priests.

In our times, in the work of the Holy Dormition Monastery kept Zhirovichi icon of the Mother of God - the miraculous icon of the smallest stone with traces of the Virgin, Zhirovichi handwritten Gospel. Many pilgrims flock here to pay homage to the miraculous icon of rock and bringing healing.

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Holy Dormition Monastery in Zhirovichi
Bernardine Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
Main Synagogue
Holy Trinity Cathedral