0967 BELARUS (Mogilev) - Saint Nicholas Monastery

0967 Saint Nicholas Monastery in Mogilev

Located in eastern Belarus, at about 76km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast, Mogilev (also spelled Mahilyow) is a city with a long history, documentary attested since 1267. From the 14th century was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then, since 1569, part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 16th-17th centuries the city flourished as one of the main nodes of the east-west and north-south trading routes. In 1577 Polish King Stefan Batory granted it with city rights under Magdeburg law.

After the First Partition of Poland (1772) it became part of the Russian Empire. During WWI, the Stavka, the headquarters of the Russian Imperial Army was based in the city. One of the city's important landmark is the Convent of St. Nicholas, a monument of Baroque architecture. Situated in the Dnieper river valley, it consists of a number of stone buildings: St. Nicholas Church (in the postcard), St. Onuphry Church, a dwelling house (a hospital), a belfry and a fence with an entrance gate.

The stone building of the St. Nicholas Church was erected on the place of a wooden church from 1669 to 1672. The dominant architectural feature of the church was a two-tower main facade with a figured pediment decorated with a set of diversiform tiered bays. A prominent element were carved floral patterns in the decor of the walls that are consistent with the carving of the iconostasis. Side facades are decorated by high pilasters, the wings of the transept are completed with figured boards. At present the complex is an active (females) convent.

About the stamps
The first stamp, depicting Kamianets Tower, is part of the 14th series of definitive stamps Architectural monuments, about which I wrote here.

The second stamp is part of the series Edible Mushrooms, issued on September 10, 2013, and designed by Alexander Mityanin:
• Woolly milkcap / Lactarius torminosus (N) - It's on the postcard 0967 (with the sheet's coupon)
• Sweet tooth / Hydnum repandum (N)
• Ashen chanterelle / Cantharellus cinereus (М)
• Gypsy mushroom / Rozites caperatus (М)
Every sheet have 9 stamps & 1 coupon, in coupon being also depicted an animal which live in the same environment as the respective mushroom. Letter "N" is equal to the surface tariff of a postcard abroad. Letter "M" is equal to the air-mail tariff of a postcard abroad.

References
Mogilev - Wikipedia
St. Nicholas Monastery Complex in the city of Mahilyou - UNESCO official website

Sender: Victoria / Torie_Yakubova (postcrossing) BY-1129949
Sent from Mogilev (Mogilev / Belarus), on 21.12.2013
Photo: A. Litin