Defensive Orthodox church, Supraśl, Poland (part 1 of 3)
The monastery in Supraśl is one of five male Orthodox monasteries in Poland. Work on the main church, a defensive temple dedicated to the Annunciation, began here in 1510.
In 1635, the monastery came under the control of the Uniates and was administered by the Basilian order for nearly 200 years. This order significantly expanded the complex, adding new Baroque furnishings to the monastery church and a three-tiered iconostasis with a crowning element.
In 1824, after Supraśl fell under Russian rule, the monastery was taken over by the Russian Orthodox Church. The male monastery functioned until 1915, when the monks went into exile.
During the interwar period, the monastery buildings belonged to the Salesians.
From 1939 to 1941, the monastery was devastated by the Soviet troops stationed there. A kitchen was set up in the Church of St. John the Theologian, and a forge was established in the main temple. Soldiers removed icons from the building and destroyed the Baroque iconostasis.
In 1944, retreating Germans blew up the main church and forced the monks to leave the monastery. The remains of the temple were secured as a permanent ruin after World War II.
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