Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena: historical landmarks

One of the most beautiful churches in Minsk is the Catholic Church of Saints Simeon and Helen. There is this monument of religious architecture in the center of the capital, decorating it with its architecture. The condition of the philanthropist Edward Adam Voynilovich, whose money this church was built, was the demand 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 construction

The church of St. Simeon and St. Helena owes its existence to a man of honor and respect in the society of his time - Edward Voinilovich. During his lifetime, he was a world judge and chairman of the agricultural society in Minsk. By the way, the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena was not the only cult building built on its means. He also sponsored the erection for the Jewish believers of the Kletsk synagogue, and for Orthodox Christians - the church. He died in 1928 at the age of 81 years.

Start of construction

For the first time the idea of building a church began to dawn among the townspeople in 1897. But it was not so easy to implement, and the construction had to be postponed. Only in 1905 the city authorities allocated a site for the construction of the Catholic church. The sponsorship of the Voyniloviches allowed the project to be implemented. The reason for the spouses was not just a desire to help the Catholic community to find its building for prayers and services. The fact is that in 1897, Edward and his wife died due to serious illness twelve-year-old son Simeon. And in 1903, for the same reason, her daughter died, who went to another world on the eve of her nineteenth birthday. In memory of their deceased children, the couple decided to donate to the city the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena.

The construction of the temple

The authors of the project were the architect from Warsaw Tomasz Poyazdersky. There is an interesting story about how this temple was created. According to her, Edward's daughter Elena saw a dream, shortly before her death, in which a beautiful temple figured. After awakening, she sketched this building. This and that figure served as a reference point and a reference point for the development of the project, as a result of which the church of St. Simeon and St. Helen 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. From the north-east side there was a large tower fifty meters high. It symbolized parental grief over the lost children. Rose windows let in the building sunlight, passing it through the stained-glass windows created by Frantishko Bruzdovich based on traditional Belarusian ornaments. Musical accompaniment of divine services in the church was carried out by a large organ and three bells. Together with the cult building, a so-called plebania was built - a dwelling house and household premises for the residence of a priest. The whole complex was fenced with an iron fence with a wrought-iron gate.

Completed the construction of the temple in five years. In November 1910 the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena was consecrated in a solemn atmosphere. Public worship in it began not long before Christmas of the same year.

Revolution

After the revolution of 1917, the church was closed, of course. But in its building the Polish theater is located, to which the House of cinema in a complex with cafe inherited. This place was considered prestigious in the Soviet times and it was not so easy to get there.

Return to the believers

The return of the building to the hands of believers was in 1990. Six years later, the sculpture of the archangel Michael, piercing a dragon's spear, symbolizing evil, was installed on the territory of the complex. In 2000, next to this sculpture appeared a monument "bell of Nagasaki", 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 model from Japan called "Angel", miraculously survived after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Church today

Red church - so today for its color, due to red brick, called the townspeople church of St. Simeon and St. Helena. Minsk and the capital's residents consider it not only one of their religious centers, but also a cultural landmark. Periodically, various exhibitions, concerts and performances are held under the main basilica of the temple in a special hall. There are also famous concerts of organ music taking place in the church.

Unfortunately, nothing is known about where the remains of the children of the Voynilovich family are now lying - passing the building of the church to the needs of the theater, the Soviet authorities ordered the demolition of the family crypt and reburial of the remains. Already after the return of the church to believers near the temple was buried his 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 visiting cards of Minsk. For those who wish to visit it, it will be useful to find out the address: Minsk, Sovetskaya street, 15.