Grodno. Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross.
Church
Belarus, Grodno, Parizhskoy Kommuny street, 1A
0
256
22.10.2024
Description
In Grodno, on the high bank of the Neman, there is an architectural complex of the Catholic Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and the Bernardine Monastery, built in the 17th century. This is the oldest functioning Catholic church in the city, and one of the oldest in the western part of Belarus. It is also the tallest church in Grodno, the height of the bell tower together with the cross is about 60 meters.
In architectural terms, the church is a basilica with a large elongated semicircular apse and two sacristy, and combines different styles: Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance. The interior of the temple dates back to the 17th-18th centuries, abounds in painting and sculptural compositions.
Inside the church there is a unique organ from the 17th century, which still retains its authenticity and creates a unique atmosphere thanks to its sound.
Categories
Historical
Architectural monument
Location
Latitude: 53.67522093
Longitude: 23.8305285
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22.10.2024
Grodno. Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and the Bernardine Monastery.
The history of the church in Grodno is closely connected with the arrival of the Bernardine monks in the city. In 1494, the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellon gave them land for the construction of a monastery and a church. Initially, the church was wooden, and the construction of a stone one began in 1595 with the support of King Sigismund III Vasa. According to legend, significant donations for the construction were made by soldiers returning victorious, each of whom gave a thaler, and Chancellor Lev Sapieha donated a thousand thalers. In 1618, the Vilnius Bishop Eustachy Volovich consecrated the church, which meant the completion of its construction. The church, residential building and four-tiered bell tower form a single complex with an inner courtyard.
The Bernardine Church and Monastery is considered one of the unique architectural ensembles in Grodno. It displays elements of several architectural styles. The protruding stepped buttresses and pointed high window openings on the rear and side facades are related to the Gothic style. The curvilinear forms of the upper tier of the main facade together with the baroque elements of the entrance group belong to the baroque style. And the facade projection together with part of the ceiling and niches with sculptures are characteristic of the Renaissance era. All these styles are harmoniously combined and form a single architectural composition.
Members of noble families such as the Mosalskys, Eismonts and Andrei Stanislav Sapieha were buried in the church. There is a legend about a dungeon under the church where there were also burials. In 1894, the writer Eliza Orzeszko married her second husband in this church.
In 1832, the monastery was closed, and the church became a parish church. During the Soviet era, the church housed a forensic medical examination bureau and a sanitary station. The church was returned to the Catholics in 1990. A higher Roman Catholic seminary was opened here. It is still operating. Since 1997, a library has been open at the seminary, which contains more than 20,000 copies of secular and religious literature.
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