Churches & monasteries

St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Białystok

The Cathedral of St Nicholas the Wonderworker on Lipowa Street is Białystok’s main Orthodox church and one of the defining landmarks of the city centre. The present masonry building was erected in 1843–1846 in the late Byzantine style.

History and architecture

The cathedral replaced an older wooden church founded in 1727 by Hetman Jan Klemens Branicki. The new building follows a Greek-cross plan; the design is attributed to Konstantin Thon, with diocesan architect Tomasz Tyszecki involved in the project. The church was consecrated in 1846. Its late Byzantine form, semicircular dome on a high drum and western tower create a distinctive composition along Białystok’s central walking route.

What to see inside

The interior is known for rich polychrome decoration and a wooden, three-tier iconostasis with carved and gilded details. In 1845, Moscow artist Adrian Malakhov painted 25 icons for the iconostasis. The cathedral is also connected with the veneration of St Gabriel of Zabłudów and the Białystok Icon of the Mother of God.

Practical information

The church is at 15 Lipowa Street, 15-424 Białystok. The parish office is at 4A Świętego Mikołaja Street; phone +48 85 742 07 80. There is no museum ticket desk or single sightseeing route: the parish publishes a current weekly service schedule on its website, so check it before travelling. During services, keep quiet, dress respectfully and ask before taking photographs. The cathedral fits naturally into a walk along Lipowa Street, through the centre and towards Branicki Palace.