Mogilev is an administrative center of Mogilev region in the east of Belarus, located around 200 km from the Belarusian capital, the city of Minsk. It is the 3rd in population and size city after Minsk and Gomel.
Mogilev is situated on picturesque banks of Dnepr river which divides the city into two parts. The city of Mogilev has started its long history since the year of 1267. Some legends exist connected with the name of the city. According to one of them, the city was names after a hero Masheka who perished at the hands of his beloved. The tumulus where he was buried was called a "Lion's Grave". If to believe the other legend, the city, probably, was named after the prince Lev Mogiya, who, according to the chronicles, ordered to lay the castle on a bend of Dnepr river in 1267. In the 14th century Mogilev joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuanian, then - Rzeczpospolita or the Polish State, and in 1772 it became part of the Russian Empire. Mogilev survived invasions of the foreign troops - the Swedish troops during the Northern War 1700-1721, Napoleon's troops during the war of 1812, the occupation by troops of Kaiser's Germany in 1918 or by Nazis in 1941-1944.
Unfortunately, many monuments of architecture and sights of Mogilev were destroyed during numerous wars. Nowadays the main architectural monuments of Mogilev are the complex of St. Nicholas convent, to which the most ancient Orthodox Church of the city - St. Nicholas Cathedral of the end of the 16th century belongs too. Inside the cathedral murals of various times have preserved, the most ancient of which date back to the end of the 17th century. There is also the wooden carved iconostasis of the 17th century there decorated with a sculpture of the crucifixion.
Church of St. Stanislaus is situated in the center of Mogilev. It was built during the years of 1738-1752. It belonged to the Carmelite Order for 15 years, but later it was given under the bishop's residence by the decree of the Russian Empress Catherine II. The dome and walls of this church are covered with frescoes of the 18th century. Among the sights of the city it is also possible to see the ruins of the Svisloch Castle. In the city of Mogilev there is one of the most ancient museums of the country - The Mogilev Regional Museum, its collection started to form in 1867. Nowadays the museum contains more than 200 thousand of exhibits.
However, the highlight of the city of Mogilev is considered to be the Stars' Square where there is a fascinating set of sculptures: a 7-meter stargazer or astrologer sitting on a high chair and looking through a 4-meter telescope. Around the stargazer there are 12 chairs which coincide with the zodiac signs. The Stargazer in Mogilev is unique as it is the only monument to the stargazer or astrologer in the world. Also this set of the sculptures is one of the most unusual and biggest sundials.
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