Visited March 2024

It is going to be a very short review…

I really like this small tserkva, the Ortodox church, standing at the high shore of Neman river, in the central park/part of Grodno (Hrodna)! Its beginnings go back to XI century when local prince Wsiewolod Davidovic decided to build a church in honour to the first Slavic saints Boris and Gleb (sons of Vladimir the Great). How this place of cult looked when built? We do not know. But what we know is that the oldest elements of the present church are its northern wall, part of the western one with the entrance door (it was oriented) and part of the eastern apses. The decorated polychrome elements in the form of crosses on its exterior walls and the jars (photo) used inside as resonators make this church something special and unique… But is it enough to be inscribed as world heritage? The rest of the building was constructed (not even reconstructed) in wood in the second half of XIX and XX century. (By the way – the story of the building and its reconstruction is pretty interesting.) And they say that remains of similar tserkvas (with pitchers, coloured stones) were found around Grodno.

I like this church, but I do not think nominating and inscribing A WALL, yes, just a wall, ONE authentic and historical and unique wall, is the way UNESCO should care about local heritage. It makes me think of Bagrati cathedral and its reconstruction and presence on WH list.