St. Nicholas Cathedral, Bialystok       At place of a temple from XVI century, which had been the branch of the church in Dojlidy, on years 1843-1846 was build in Bialystok church of St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker. It was built in neo-classical style with the elements of the antic architecture. The neo-classical style refers to late-Byzantine cross-dome construction. Such style of building was widespread especially on the lands which were under the influence of the Byzantium.
    The church of St. Nicholas is at present the main orthodox temple in Bialystok. Situated at the square of the previous cemetery it is turned with its altar part to the East. From the west side the main nave is extended with porch over which there is the tower with belfry. The vestry is situated in the south-east side. The whole building was designed with the use of the Greek cross and it consist of two fundamental parts, the main trunk with a dome at the intersection of vaults as well as the dome finished with a spire. The church is a one-dimensional building with the inside division into a nave which encompasses three arms of the Greek cross as well as a chancel in the eastern part, which is separated from the nave with an iconostas. The church has four entrances: the main one from the West, two side ones on the nord-south line, and one from the chancel.             The inside walls of the cathedral are separated by pilasters with Doric capitals ornamented with motifs of stylised leaves. The windows finished with full arch are between them. The inside polychrome of the temple which was made during its construction have not survived till the present day. Renovation of the temple in 1910 was accomplished in a new style modelled on painting motifs of Wiktor Wasniecow from cathedral church of St. Volodimir in Kijev. The church polychrome was made by group of Russian painters under direction of Michail Awilow. The renewed church was consecrated, again.              On the bottom floor under the altar part a chapel of St. Serafin Sarowski is located. It was build from 1955 till 1958. The iconostas was taken from the church of St. Serafin Sarowski, which had been build in 1902 in Wygoda district. In 1918, this church was taken over by Catholics and changed into Roman-catholic church.
    The following redecoration of the cathedral church was made from 1955 till 1958. It was then when the bottom church and outside walls were painted and the crosses were gilded. During the next redecoration of the interior, made from 1975 till 1976, plaster was taken off as it did not guarantee the durability of the conservatory works. Only in the altar part the original fresco of Awilow depicting the Rising Christ was left. The new polychrome was made by Jozeph Lotowski. From 1988 to 1990 the major redecoration of the temple was conducted. The roof and the domes were covered with copper sheet metal, the new plaster was put and the iconostas as well as kiots were gilded.              Until 1950 the church of St. Nicholas served as the parish temple. As a result of a new border arrangement set after World War II, there was a need of establishing a new diocese. Therefore the church of St. Nicholas raised up to range of the cathedral church of diocese. The cathedral church owns the worshiped icons: of St. Nicholas, the Bialystok's Mother of God, the Protection (Pokrowa) of the Holy Lady Mary, the cross consecrated in Jerusalem at the Lord's Grave, and the relics of St. Martyr Gabriel, who is the protector of the children and youth, brought from Grodno in 1992. The oldest temple in the city under the invocation of the St. Mary Magdalene from XVIII century also belongs to the parish. Father Jan Fiedorczuk is the rector of the cathedral parish.
The parish feasts: Saint Nicholas the Wonder-Worker - December 19 (December 6, old style) and the feast of transforming the relic of St. Nicholas - May 22 (May 9, old calendar). The day in the memory of St. Martyr Gabriel is celebrated festively as well May 3 (April 20, old style) and the feast of transforming the relics of St. Martyr Gabriel - September 22 (September 9, old calendar).              For many years the number of Orthodox people in Bialystok had been increasing. For this reason the need of establishing new parishes in the city appeared. Since that time there had been only two parishes: in Dojlidy - of Holy Prophet Elijah and St. Nicholas. In 1983, by the decision of His Excellence Archbishop of Bialystok and Gdansk SAWA the new parishes were created: Holy Spirit in Antoniuk, All Saints in Wygoda and later Hagia Sophia in Jaroszowka, the Resurrection of the Christ in Sloneczny Stok and St. George in Nowe Miasto. The above mentioned parishes were then excluded from the St. Nicholas parish.
    Church of the St. Nicholas actual is the cathedral of the Bialystok and Gdansk bishop. Previously the responsibilities of bishop were fulfilled by His Eminence Archbishop SAWA, now the Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland. The Head of the Bialystok-Gdansk Diocese is now His Excellence Bishop JAKOB.
    The visit of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch (of Constantinople) Dimitrios I in 1987 and the Pope John Paul II in 1991 were the most outstanding events for the parish. In 1988 the main liturgical ceremonies connected with the Polish celebrations of the 1000 years of the Baptism of Russia were held in the cathedral church of St. Nicholas.
    In 1998 the cathedral church of St. Nicholas hosted Ecumenical Patriarch (of Constantinople) for the second time in its history. On the 14.10.1998 His Holiness Patriarch BARTHOLOMEW I came to Bialystok who accompanied by the Metropolitan SAWA and other hierarchs presided the festive service in the cathedral of St. Nicholas.   Schedule of Services in the Church of St. Nicholas (Bialystok, Lipowa 15 street):
weekday: 9⁰⁰ - Divine Liturgy
Tuesday: 18⁰⁰ - Akafist to St. Martyr Gabriel
Wednesday: 18⁰⁰ - Akafist to St. Nicholas the Wonder-Worker
Saturday: 18⁰⁰ - All-night Vigil
Sunday: 7³⁰ and 10⁰⁰ - Divine Liturgy, 18⁰⁰ - Vespers
(after change time to winter, evening services was celebrated at 17⁰⁰)