In Vialikaja Miadzviadcy, the grave of Ignacy Domeyko's brother was found. See how the nearby church, which the world-renowned scientist visited, has been defaced

The church in Vialikaja Miadzviadcy before and after reconstruction.

The Solved Mystery of Kazimierz Domeyko's Grave

As researcher Dzmitry Yurkevich shared on his Facebook page, during a local history work party on the territory of the former Domeyko estate, two post-war gravestones were examined. It turned out that they were made from one old broken stone. In fact, these fragments are parts of a wide horizontal slab that was once part of a luxurious pedestal of a tombstone monument with a sculptural finial.

A Polish-language inscription was preserved on the fragments: “Here rest the remains of … who died on January 30, 1872, at the age of 68. Peace to his soul.”

Павялічыць

Kazimierz Domeyko, Ignacy's brother, and his wife. Photo: Dzmitry Yurkevich's Facebook

Previously, it was not possible to precisely determine to whom this monument belonged due to inconsistencies in the family's genealogy. Local historians suspected it might be the grave of Kazimierz Domeyko — Ignacy's brother, who managed the estate in Miadzviadcy his entire life. But in various reference books and sources, his death date was listed as 1875 or 1876. Because of this, the number "1872" on the stone could not be confidently matched with Kazimierz.

Павялічыць

This is how the majestic tombstone monument with an angel figure once looked in the cemetery of Vialikaja Miadzviadcy, of which only fragments of the slab remain today. Photo: Dzmitry Yurkevich's Facebook

To untangle this knot, Dzmitry Yurkevich turned to the epistolary heritage of Ignacy Domeyko. In the collection of letters, a letter to Władysław Łaskowicz was found, written from Santiago, Chile, on September 22, 1872:

“I had not yet recovered from the grief after my wife's death when I was touched by Khalkhouski's death. I suppressed this new sorrow within me when you informed me of my brother's death. <…> When we read that he was no more, it was as if something tore in my heart. After a moment, I remembered that when we were children, my two brothers... were preparing to go into the world... and they laughed at me for thinking of nothing but the household... Well, they died peacefully, at home, perhaps in the same bed as our father, while I, God knows where, will bury my bones.”

This document became the key. If in September 1872 Ignacy bitterly wrote about his brother's recent death, it means Kazimierz could not have died in 1875 or 1876, as encyclopedias mistakenly claimed.

All that remained was to do the math. Kazimierz Domeyko was born on October 26, 1803. On January 30, 1872 (the date on the stone), he was exactly 68 full years old. The chronological formula perfectly matched, allowing historians to finally identify the monument's remains.

Павялічыць

Fragments of the horizontal slab from Kazimierz Domeyko's pedestal, which were used as secondary gravestones in the post-war period. Photo: Dzmitry Yurkevich's Facebook

The 'Euro-renovation' of a Historical Shrine

The Domeyko family is closely connected not only with the local cemetery but also with the Holy Ascension Church located there. Ignacy Domeyko received his first communion in this church and participated in festive processions with his parents.

Павялічыць

The original appearance of the church before reconstruction.

The church was a rare preserved example of folk architecture with elements of classicism, built at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries. It featured a single-log construction with semicircular (thermal) "Italian" windows, characteristic of classical architecture, and original planked doors.

In Soviet times, the church was officially protected by the state and included in the "Collection of Monuments of History and Culture of Belarus," but in 2001, when a new State List was created, the object was simply "lost" and deprived of its protected status.

Recently, the historical church underwent a catastrophe under the guise of giving it 'new life'.

Павялічыць

The church during reconstruction. The original planked doors still remained at the main entrance. Photo: Telegram channel "Spadchyna"

As the Telegram channel "Spadchyna" reports, the local priest initiated a barbaric "Euro-renovation" of the building. The unique wooden church was completely covered with cheap PVC siding, which not only alters its appearance but also disrupts air exchange, inevitably leading to faster decay of the old log structure.

The original window infills were discarded, and an incongruous visor appeared over the entrance. The next step was the destruction of the historical bell tower turret, in place of which an awkward stump, covered with green tin, now rises.

Павялічыць

The final result of the Euro-renovation. The historical monument from the late 18th — early 19th century completely lost its architectural appearance. Photo: Dzmitry Yurkevich's Facebook

Officials Denied Protection

To stop the destruction of the church, activists in 2022, the year of Ignacy Domeyko's 220th birth anniversary, initiated granting the church the status of a historical and cultural value. A thorough scientific report was prepared, proving the historical value of the object, its uniqueness, and its inseparable connection with the figure of the famous scientist.

However, the Hrodna Regional Council on Historical and Cultural Heritage decided on November 8 of the same year: "There is no need to grant status".

Павялічыць

In Soviet times, scientists from the Academy of Sciences recognized the church as an architectural monument; in the early 2000s, Belarusian officials "lost" it as a monument, and now the priest has finally destroyed it. Photo: Telegram channel "Spadchyna"

In an official response, the Karelichy District Executive Committee explained that the wooden structures were damaged by rot and had an "unattractive appearance," so they were simply hidden behind siding. Officials also stated that the church is a "traditional rural" one, so there are no grounds for its protection.

Meanwhile, the local district newspaper enthusiastically writes about how "local authorities and residents gave new life" to the shrine with the support of the chairman of the district executive committee.

The officials' decision not to restore the church's status as an architectural monument effectively allowed the priest to complete the destruction of the church that Ignacy Domeyko knew.

• 1
• 3
• 0
• 6
• 1
• 4
• 11
• 0