In the capital of the Republic of Belarus, Minsk, a temple stands consecrated in honor of the great biblical event - the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. Abolished in the first years of Soviet power and reopened the doors during the period of occupation, today it is not only a city cathedral, but also the main focus of Orthodoxy in the country.
Catholic church that has become an Orthodox church
In 1630, a new church began to be erected in Minsk on the territory of the Bernardine Catholic Catholic Monastery. The work continued for nine years, from the day it was completed, masses were regularly served in it until 1741, until the church burned down. A lot of work and money was put into its restoration, finally, the council body again announced the vaults with its solemn sounds, which did not cease to glorify the Creator for the next century.
The services continued until, in 1852, by the decree of the episcopate, the monastery was transferred to the city of Nesvizh, located near Minsk, which was a major center of Catholicism in those years. This circumstance caused the church, which stood for more than two centuries, was transformed into an Orthodox church - the future cathedral in Minsk.
The foundation of a new monastery
Immediately after the transition of the church to the Moscow patriarchy, its building underwent significant restructuring. In particular, a two-story building adjoining it from the north-western side was erected. For several years, the church had parish status, but after the diocesan administration decided in 1869 to establish an Orthodox men's monastery in the place where Bernardine sisters once saved their souls, the church, known today as the Cathedral in Minsk , became the main shrine of the newly created monastery.
To give the monastery and all its buildings proper magnificence, the Holy Synod released a huge sum for those times - thirteen thousand rubles. From the documents that have been preserved to this day, it is known that half of these funds went to the restoration and decoration of the church, in which a new iconostasis was installed, which amazed contemporaries with its splendor.
The life of the monastery until the October Revolution
The solemn worship in honor of the opening of the monastery took place on January 17, 1870. On this day, the premises of the temple were filled with its new inhabitants, transferred here from the Holy Trinity Monastery, which was abolished in Slutsk. They brought with them various monastic property, among which the most valuable was the rich library of church books, as well as the sacristy collected over several centuries.
Then, from the capital, a synodal instruction was received from the newly founded monastery and its main temple to be sanctified in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and henceforth to be called the Holy Spirit. Under this name, the monastery lasted until November 1922, until it fell under the general wave of the anti-religious campaign unfolded in the country and was not closed. Together with her, the Cathedral closed its doors and the Holy Spirits. Before Minsk, not a single church was left before the war.
Years of persecution of the church
The former monastery church once again accepted believers under its vaults only during the occupation, when it was opened by order of the German command. After two decades, during which his premises were used for various household needs, the cathedral had to be re-consecrated. This ceremony was performed by Bishop Filofei (Narco) who was in the occupied territory.
After the liberation of Belarus from the Nazis, the Soviet government again closed many churches, services in which were resumed during the occupation. By the grace of the Holy Spirits, the Cathedral in Minsk escaped this fate and continued to operate throughout all the years of domination of anti-religious ideology in the country.
Revival of religious life in the republic
With the advent of perestroika and the changes in the attitude of the state towards religion that it brought with it, many shrines that were previously taken from believers were returned to their former rightful owners. The Cathedral in Minsk opened a new page in its service to God and people. In 1990, religious processions were resumed and became traditional in it, in which more and more people take part every year.
The Cathedral in Minsk, whose address is st. Cyril and Methodius 3, today is rightfully considered the main spiritual center of not only the city, but the whole Republic of Belarus. This is largely facilitated by the abundance of Orthodox shrines stored in its walls. Among a number of icons that have become famous for the abundance of the Grace of God sent down by believers through them, the Cathedral in Minsk is especially famous for the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, acquired in the 15th century.
The image found in the river waves
There is a legend about this marvelous image, the authorship of which is attributed to the Evangelist Luke himself, according to which, having spent several centuries in Byzantium, he was brought to Kiev by the Holy Prince Vladimir, where he stayed for five centuries. At the end of the 15th century, the city was invaded by the Tatars, and one of the barbarians, stripping the precious salary from the icon, threw it into the Dnieper.
However, by the will of God, the shrine survived, and, after some time, was found in Minsk. Residents noticed her in the waves of the Svisloch river flowing through the city, took them out, reverently carried them to the church, where she soon became famous for miracles. Today, in memory of this event, a solemn service is held annually on August 13 in the Minsk Cathedral, to which thousands of believers gather.