Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Drohiczyn

In Drohiczyn, the former capital of Podlachia, just by the market square stands the Baroque church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — a former Franciscan temple with a turbulent history, flanked by the old monastery of 1737–1751 and a free-standing belfry from around 1770.

From timber to Baroque

According to tradition, the Franciscan convent was founded by the Drohiczyn starosta Mikołaj Nasuta; Duke Vytautas confirmed the monks' endowment in 1407, and a wooden church and monastery stood by 1409. Successive temples fell victim to fires, and in 1657 the monastery was destroyed by the troops of the Deluge, who murdered several friars. The masonry church was begun around 1682 by guardian Antoni Gałecki and completed around 1715 with contributions from the Podlachian nobility; the consecration took place in 1733.

Loreto for Vienna

After the victory over the Turks at Vienna in 1683, rotmistrz Stanisław Karol Łużecki funded the Loreto chapel, completed before 1696 — with a Rococo altar of 1774. The interior is distinguished by a stucco Rococo main altar of 1762–1764 and altars with paintings, including a Vision of St. Anthony by Antoni Gruszecki.

Destruction and reconstruction

The Franciscans were expelled from Drohiczyn in 1832, and on 23 June 1941 Soviet troops set the church on fire, destroying the roof, altars and the top of the belfry. Reconstruction was carried out in 1946–1954, and the reconciliation rite took place on 15 August 1949. Nearby: Zamkowa Hill over the Bug river and the Drohiczyn cathedral.