Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bielsk Podlaski

The Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos (Prechistenskaya) in Bielsk Podlaski is an Orthodox co-cathedral that serves as a parish church within the Bielsk Podlaski deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsk Diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Its history dates back to the 13th century, when the first temple was built, later destroyed during the Tatar invasion of 1240. In 1289, Prince Vladimir Vasilkovich of Vladimir donated gifts for the rebuilt church. Over the following centuries, the building changed location and status several times, including becoming a Uniate church in 1596. The current wooden structure, one of the oldest in the urban complex, was built in the 17th century. Throughout the centuries, the church has undergone numerous renovations, with the most recent restoration work taking place between 2001 and 2006. Architecturally, the church is a wooden log structure with a three-nave interior and a rectangular sacristy. Notable features include a separate bell tower and a Baroque turret with a siganture that existed until 1968. The church houses the Bielsk Icon of the Mother of God, considered miraculous, and a richly decorated iconostasis. It is also worth noting that the church has been visited by prominent figures such as Patriarch John X of Antioch and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria. The temple was added to the register of historical monuments in 1966, highlighting its cultural and historical significance in the region.