One of the most beautiful temples in Minsk is the Catholic Church of Saints Simeon and Elena. This monument of religious architecture is located in the center of the capital, decorating it with its architecture. The condition of the philanthropist Edward Adam Voinilovich, on whose money this temple was built, was the requirement that the church be erected in strict accordance with the project approved by him and his wife. This church will be discussed below.
Initiator and sponsor of the construction
The church of St. Simeon and St. Helena owes its existence to a man of nobility and respected in the society of his time - Edward Voynilovich. During his lifetime, he was a justice of the peace and chairman of the agricultural society in Minsk. By the way, the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena was not the only religious building built at his expense. He also sponsored the construction of the Kletsk synagogue for Jewish believers, and churches for Orthodox Christians. This man died in 1928 at the age of 81.
Start of construction
For the first time, the idea of building a church dawned on the townspeople in 1897. But to implement it was not so simple, and the construction had to be postponed. Only in 1905, the city authorities allocated a site for the construction of the Catholic church. Sponsorship of the four Voynilovichs allowed the implementation of the project. The motive of the spouses was not just a desire to help the Catholic community find their own building for prayers and services. The fact is that in 1897 the twelve-year-old son Simeon died with Edward and his wife as a result of a serious illness. And in 1903, for the same reason, a daughter died, who departed to another world on the eve of her nineteenth birthday. In memory of their late children, the couple decided to give the city the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena.
Temple construction
The project was sponsored by an architect from Warsaw, Tomasz Poyazdersky. An interesting story is known about how this temple was created. According to her, Edward's daughter Elena had a dream shortly before her death, in which a beautiful temple appeared. After waking up, she sketched this building. It was this drawing that served as a reference point and reference point in the development of the project, as a result of which the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena was built. Minsk is still proud of this building as a real gem of urban architecture.
Two towers of the church represent the two dead children of the Voynilovich family. On the northeast side was a large tower fifty feet high. She symbolized the parental sorrow for the lost children. Rose windows let sunlight into the building, passing it through the stained-glass windows created by Frantishko Bruzdovich based on traditional Belarusian ornaments. Musical accompaniment of worship in the church was carried out by a large organ and three bells. Together with the religious building, the so-called plebania was built - a residential building and utility rooms for the priest to live. The whole complex was fenced with an iron fence with wrought-iron gates.
They completed the construction of the temple in five years. In November 1910, the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena was consecrated in a festive atmosphere. Public services in it began shortly before Christmas of that year.
Revolution
After the revolution of 1917, the church, of course, was closed. But in its building is the Polish Theater, which was succeeded by the Cinema House in a complex with a cafe. This place was considered prestigious in Soviet times and getting there was not so easy.
Return to the faithful
The building was returned to believers in 1990. Six years later, a sculpture of the archangel Michael, piercing the dragon with a spear, symbolizing evil, was installed on the territory of the complex. In 2000, next to this sculpture appeared the monument "Nagasaki Bell", which enriched the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena. Belarus received it as a gift from the Catholics of Nagasaki. This bell was made in exact accordance with a sample from Japan named "Angel", who miraculously survived after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Church today
The red church - so today, for their color, due to the red brick, the townspeople call the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena. Minsk and residents of the capital consider it not only one of their religious centers, but also a cultural attraction. Under the main basilica of the temple, various exhibitions, concerts and performances are periodically held in a special hall. Organ concerts in the church are also famous.
Unfortunately, nothing is known about where the remains of the children of the Voynilovich family are now resting - transferring the building of the temple to the needs of the theater, the Soviet authorities ordered to demolish the family crypt and rebury the remains. After the church returned, believers near the temple buried its builder - Edward Voinilovich, whose remains were transported from Poland, fulfilling his will.
Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena: address
This temple is one of the business cards of Minsk. For those who wish to visit it, it will be useful to find out the address: Minsk city, Sovetskaya street, 15.