The Monastery of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. John the Theologian in Supraśl

The Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. John the Theologian Monastery in Supraśl is one of five Orthodox monasteries in Poland, founded by Alexander Chodkiewicz before 1497. Initially, the seat was located in Gródek, but in 1503 the monks moved to the forest clearing of Suchy Hrud, where the construction of the main church dedicated to the Annunciation began, completed in 1511. The monastery became a significant center of Orthodoxy in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as a pilgrimage site, especially due to the Suprasl Icon of the Mother of God. In the 16th century, it maintained intensive contacts with other monastic communities, both within the Commonwealth and in the Balkans. After the Union of Brest, the monastery passed into the hands of the Uniates in 1635, sparking a long-lasting conflict over its jurisdictional affiliation. The Basilian monks, who managed the monastery, expanded its buildings and established a printing house, which contributed to the development of Uniate culture and literature. Following the Russian partitions, the monastery lost part of its property, and in 1824 it returned to Orthodox control, though it remained in a difficult financial situation for many years. World War II brought further destruction—the Germans blew up the main church, and the monks were forced to flee. After the war, an agricultural school operated in the monastery buildings. In the 1980s, the process of rebuilding and reactivating the monastery began, and in 2000, the Icon Museum was opened. The monastery's architecture combines Byzantine and Gothic influences, with particular attention drawn to the main church with its four corner towers, richly decorated interior, and restored frescoes. An interesting fact is that in 2022, the Polish Post issued a stamp commemorating the Supraśl monastery. The monastery is currently the seat of the Supraśl Academy, further emphasizing its role as a cultural center in the region.