Mikhail the Archangel Church (Svira)

Mikhail the Archangel Church in Smolensk situated on Park Avenue is an unique monument of ancient Russian architecture created presumably in 1180s to 1190s under the order of Prince Davyd Rostislavich. This building set a pioneering direction for architectural development in Western Russian lands and served as a prototype for other churches such as St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa Cathedral in Novgorod. After being transferred to the Smolensk and Vyazma Diocese in 1990 worship services resumed in 1991. A white limestone carved iconostasis and altar were consecrated in November 1999.