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Mogilev

Coat of Arms of the city of Mogilev features the image of three silver towers at the blue background with a green tip. Image of three fortified towers is connected with the history of Mogilev saying that the city was initially founded on the three hills existent today. In an open gate of the central tower a silver knight in armor with a sword raised above his head is placed. The knight in the gate symbolizes the fact that the city is open to all kind people, but ready to give a fitting rebuff to any enemy. At the top of the gate on a red shield under the roof of the central tower an armed horseman with a sword and a shield is depicted which is a historical picture of the well-known emblem called  “Chase”, the official emblem of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, of which Mogilev was  once a part. In the Belarusian heraldic silver is a valuable metal symbolizing nobility and valor and the green one is a symbol of hope.

Mogilev on old photograph: Theatrical square, 19th century

About Mogilev:

Mogilev is a city in the east of Belarus, an administrative center of the Mogilev district of the Mogilev region. Mogilev was first mentioned in an ancient chronicle in 1267 in the connection with the construction of the castle on high hills at the bend of the Dnieper River at  its confluence with a small river Dubrovenka, Mogilev is the third largest city of Belarus in the number of residents (after Minsk and Gomel). The population of Mogilev is 378, 077 people as of January 1, 2016). Extensive network of railways and highways radiating from the city in all directions connects it with the largest industrial and cultural centers of Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine. It is situated 200 km from Minsk, 380 km from Kiev, 520 km from Moscow and 700 km from St. Petersburg. The Dnieper River divides the city into two parts. The width of the Dnieper in Mogilev reaches almost 100 meters. Dnieper is navigable for 230 days a year (100-150 in the dry season). (Wikipedia).

The name of the city Mogilev originates from two words “mogila lva” meaning “Grave of a Lion” Some researchers believe the city was called after prince Lev Danilovich Mogiy, who in 1267 built the castle on a hill.

Since the 14^th century to the year of 1560 Mogilev had been a city in Grand Duchy of Lithuania. From 1569 it was incorporated into the Commonwealth of Lithuania and Poland (Czech Pospolita). In 1618 the uprising against the introduction of Greek Catholic Church took place which was severery suppressed by the authorities of Czech Pospolita. The organizers of the uprising were put to death and all Orthodox churches were handed over to Uniates.

Tourist Attraction No.1: St Nickolas Russian Orthodox church

 Perhaps, the most amazing surviving building in Mogilev is St. Nicholas Cathedral, which together with the Onufrievskaya church  is a part of  the complex of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox convent.

St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral is a unique building, constructed in the 17^th century in the style of the Mogilev Baroque. A remarkable feature of  the Mogilev school of architecture is the location of the external iconostasis on the façade of the cathedral; that attaches the building a particularly elegant appearance.  The iconostasis inside the cathedral is also remarkable and  was executed in the technique of penetrating wood carving with gold leaf by Mogilev carvers. In 1915-1917 General Headquarters of the Russian Army was accommodated in Mogilev. Emperor Nicholas II and his family used to visit St. Nicholas Cathedral during their stay in Mogilev. In the summer of 2000, during the canonization of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia of the 20^th century by the Russian Orthodox Church, a portrait of the emperor was miraculously discovered in Mogilev. It was subsequently consecrated as an icon and was put in the left side chapel of St. Nicholas Cathedral, named in honor of the Holy Royal Martyrs.  A 5-ruble gold coin is attached to the icon; that is the coin which Emperor Nicholas II gave to the boy Simeon Halipov during his visit to the cathedral.

Other sights of Mogilev and Mogilev region can be forund in the section of the website "Excursions and museums"

Interesting facts about Mogilev and Mogilev region:

• Mogilev   is the city to where the capital of Belarus was supposed to be moved before the Second World War. It was in 1937 that this decision was taken by the Government of the BSSR. The reason for such a decision was that since 1921 in accordance with Brest Peace Treaty Western Belarus had been a part of Poland. Thus, the capital city of Minsk was only 35 kilometers away from the State border with Poland. Mogilev is situated in the center of the country and has advantageous strategic and natural conditions. So,  preparion works for the capital's transfer were launched. In 1937-1939 the building for the Government was built in Mogilev, which is an exact copy of the Government house in Minsk, only smaller in size. Mogilev building for the Government was designed by the architect Josef Langbard, the one, who designed the Government house in MInsk. Now, this building is the seat of the Mogilev City Executive Committee.  A number of other impressive buildings were constructed and included a palace –like building for the Ministry of the Interior of  the BSSR, “Rodina” (Motherland) movie theater and a few gala apartment houses in the post-constructivist style. However, in September 1, 1939 the Nazi Germany attacked Poland.  In September 17, 1939 the Red Army liberated the Western Belarus, which was joined to the the BSSR, one of the republics of the USSR then. Thus, western border with Poland moved more than 300 kilometers to the west from the capital city of Minsk and therefore, the need for the transfer of the capital of Minsk to Mogilev disappeared by itself.
• It was in one of the castles of Mogilev that Peter I (the Great) first saw Mariya Skavronskaya, who subsequently became his wife, and Empress Catherine I.
• The novel "The Living and the Dead” by the Soviet writer Konstantin Simonov is dedicated to the heroic defense of the city of Mogilev during WWII.
• There is a "Polykovichskaya Krinitsa" in Mogilev. It is a unique natural spring with healing water, that has been known since 1552. Popular rumor says that its water eliminates even  hopeless sterility and returns beauty and health to women after a difficult birth. In the 19th century the village of  Polykovichi, which is now within the limits of the city, went into the possession of the Count Roman-Korsarov. The Count ennobled the area around the miraculous spring: built a stone grotto over it and installed a framework from which the healing water was running through pipes into a special pool. Th Count was very well aware of the Christian Slavic traditions and no wonder,  that a chapel, dedicated to St. Paraskeva was  built on his initiative and with his money. Paraskeva is a Christian saint, replacing the pagan goddess "Friday", who was considered the patroness and assistant of women in labor.  Nowadays, heeling qualities  of the  water from the spring have been proved by science. It is said,  that this water is also useful for those, having a problem with the gastrointestinal tract, as well as teeth and blood-forming organs. Hundreds of pilgrims have been coming to the spring to drink its water and plunge into the life-giving spring as well as to prey in the Russian Orthodox church of St. Paraskeva, built on the site of the former chapel.