Commemorative coins "Synkovichy Fortress – Church"

A fortress–church in the village of Synkovichi, Zelva district, Grodno region, represents a unique example of temples of the so–called defensive type, i.e. those which embody in their architecture the images of a castle and a religious building. Churches of this kind were erected in the 15–17 centuries in Central and Eastern Europe combining Gothic and Renaissance features. The Synkovichi Church was constructed between the 15 and 16 centuries. The layout of the Church is square–like and is divided by four pillars into three naves changing over to semicircular apses. The pillars have a faceted cross–section and prop up the vaults. Rising above the vaults is a steep gable rafter roof with triangular pediments decorated with cascades of arch bays. Four corner towers with loopholes – apertures impart to Church architecture uniqueness, expressiveness and specific emotional sounding. In the appearance of the building both ancient Russia and Gothic features can be seen. The former include an architectural belt going around apses and eastern round towers; the latter, pointed pediments, lancet windows, star–like vaults in the right–hand apse, faceted forms of western towers, and a steep roof.
Numerous decorative bays in the pediments are an indication of influence of the Renaissance style. The Church is particularly valuable because there are few analogs (only temples in Suprasl (Poland), Murovanka, and Kamai) of such volume and space approach, while its specific architectural features have no analogs at all. In this respect the Church is a masterpiece of Belarusian architecture.