Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary

Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary Архікатэдральны касцёл Імя Найсвяцейшай Панны Марыі
The Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary
Basic information
Location	Minsk, Belarus
Geographic coordinates	53°54′11.33″N 27°33′15.85″E
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Year consecrated	1710
Website	http://www.katedra.by
Architectural description
Architectural type	Cathedral
Architectural style	Baroque
Completed	1710
Specifications

Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary (Belarusian: Архікатэдральны касцёл Імя Найсвяцейшай Панны Марыі) is a Roman Catholic baroque cathedral in Minsk.

The cathedral was built in 1710 as a church of the Jesuit monastery. In 1793, after Russia's taking over Belarus, the Jesuit order was banned and the church got a local status. Soon, after creation of the Minsk diocese, the church became the local cathedral.

The Cathedral was heavily damaged in a fire in 1797, but was later fully renewed. In 1869 the Minsk diocese was liquidated and the church got a parafial status. In November 1917 the diocee was restored, the bishop Zygmunt Lazinski.

In 1920 Lazinski was arrested by Soviet authorities, the cathedral was closed down in 1934.

During the Second World War the Germans allowed the cathedral to function again, but after the war it was again closed down by the Soviets. In 1951 the cathedral's bell towers were intentionally destroyed by Soviet artillery and the building itelf was given to the Spartak sports society.

In the beginning of the 1990s religious services started. In 1993 the building was given back to the Roman Catholics, by 1997 it was renewed.

External links

• Media related to Archcathedral of Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Minsk at Wikimedia Commons
• The Cathedral's official site