Shklov

Shklov city is located on the river Dnieper in Mogilev region. Shklov is well for fair yields of cucumbers that are grown every year, sold out on the local markets and delivered to other countries. There is one of the most creative monuments of our time ‒ a monument to a cucumber that was erected in 2007 in the city center. This monument looks like a «Mister Cucumber» wearing a bronze suit and an unusual hat with a basket of the crop in his hands. The Cucumber Day is celebrated every year with songs, dances and different kinds of entertainment.

Those people who are really interested in the religious architecture of Belarus should pay attention on the Savior Transfiguration Church. This eclectic monument was built in the pseudo-Byzantine style with the features of the modernist style representing snow-white four-domical building, which construction was begun in the late XVIII century by Semyon Zorich who was the favourite of Ekaterina II. Semyon Gavrilovich Zorich came to Shklov in 1778 and founded the noble military college and Bondman Theater there.

The history tells that Zorich laid the foundation, but the construction was continued by a local dweller Agafya Sidorova, who is still honoured by the city dwellers. There is a tragic story about Agafya’s life. Being a bride, she went to a journey with her bridegroom, but then the road accident happened, the wedding cart turned over, the horses ran away and Agafya’s hair got stuck in the wheel. Her bridegroom escaped and ran away, leaving his disabled bride to die in the dense forest alone. In spite of wounds and pain, Agafya survived and began to help people using opened theomancy after the accident. The Seeress invested all funds in the construction of Savior Transfiguration Church. The religious people come to the Church every June, remember Agafya and have a requiem service. Some people come here to get a piece of advice or some help, but all people believe that Agafya can help all the needy people even being on the heavens. There is a portrait of the Holy Seeress, which was found by the staff of the regional Egoryevsky Museum. It is believed that it was painted in 1809. There is a clear sign on the oil canvas – 31 year. We can only guess what this figure means. Historians suggest that it may be her age or the quantity of years. She was almost motionless after the tragedy that completely changed her life.

The construction of the stone church lasted one hundred years and the Savior Transfiguration Church was elucidated in 1905. It should be noted that, during the World War II, the sacred place was opened for all church members, despite the mass closure of religious places.

People can visit an open sky museum on the territory of the church and see different kinds of stone crosses in order to preserve the historical heritage.

What places are also interesting to visit in Sklov? City Park is at the best top ten Belarusian parks and it is considered to be a unique object of the landscape art. While walking in the park, have a look at the monument of General Semyon Zorich from grateful city dwellers of Shklov. An old 43 metres town hall is another interesting place to visit. Its building attracts visitors due to its bright architectural idea and a great number of myths and legends connected with its history.