There is a small village Perstun’, inhabited by wise old men in the picturesque places of Grodno, the city, rich in cultural sights. This Belarusian village would never be discovered if not a historical and cultural monument, located in its territory, thanks to which a small village in the Grodno region has become an integral part of numerous tourist routes. It is common to see groups of tourists with experienced guides in the village Perstun’, and for single travelers, local grandmothers will be extremely happy to tell the history of the village and its sights not worse than a professional guide. 

Perstun’ village is located in the Grodno region not far from Svyatsk. Perstun’ is the first settlement of Sopotskinsky places, hence the name of the village. At the end of the 19th century a beautiful church of the Annunciation was built in the village Perstun’, an architectural style of which is still baffled experienced researchers who are more inclined to the Renaissance. Over the years, a beautiful temple was used as a parish by Orthodox believers, but only at the beginning of the last century, a full-fledged Catholic parish was formed there.

It is known that, once, in the village Perstun’ there was one of the most popular hunting trails. Therefore, in the church there was no end of the parishioners, and even the grand dukes often, on the eve of hunting, visited the temple to pray and light a candle. During the former grandeur of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the village was a highly developed administrative center. It is said that there were no priests in the temple, there were only nuns.

During the Second World War, the church building was severely damaged: during the retreat of the German fascist, invaders burnt in fire all Belarusian churches. A similar fate befell the Church of the Annunciation in the village Perstun’. The temple had been restored for a long time and deeply religious residents visited the parish in Golynko, located nearby. In Soviet times, the temple also experienced hardships. So, the old church ceased to have its own land and maintenance. Local people remember how, because of the desolation, thin birch trees grew on the building, and there were so many of them, that it was difficult to find the walls of the temple.

In the 90s of the last century, Annunciation church in the village Perstun’ was completely renovated: plastered, repainted, symmetrical double-glazing was installed. The central part of the facade of the temple and its massive gate perfectly preserved. The top of the cupola of the church is crowned with a roof in the form of a cone with a cross. On the outskirts of the village, in ruins, old manor house is located, and only the farmstead has survived to the present days. Annunciation Church in the village Perstun’ has convenient location and excellent transport links.

Those who especially like to travel on their land, in order to explore its historical and cultural heritage, the original route will seem interesting and useful.