Grodno. Fara Vitovta catholic chuch (memorial sign).

There is a park in the historical center of Grodno on Sovetskaya Square opposite the church. In the very center of this large square there is a memorial sign with the image of a Catholic and legal Cross. At this place there was a Catholic church called Fara Vitovta, which was later rebuilt into an Orthodox church. The temple was demolished in 1961, but the foundations have been preserved, and Grodno residents dream that the time will come when the Fara Vitovta will be rebuilt.

The church was built in the 14th century by order of Prince Vitovt on the western side of the shopping area. In 1494, the temple was repaired by order of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander and in 1551 it was repaired again by order of King Bona Sforza.

In 1584-1587, a stone church was erected at the foundation of King Stefan Batory. It was assumed that the architect was the Italian Jesuit Giovanni Maria Bernardoni and the court architect of the king Jozef Reuten. The church was three-nave, built in the Mannerist style with Gothic features and had an apse facing the square.

At the beginning of the 19th century, during the Russian Empire, the building was transferred to the Orthodox Church and the church was rebuilt in the classical style. The church was consecrated in honor of St. Sophia. In 1896-1899, it was rebuilt in the pseudo-Russian style by architect Nikolai Chagin.

In 1919, when Grodno came under Polish rule, the church was handed over to Catholic believers again. The temple was rebuilt and its Gothic features were restored.

After the Great Patriotic War, the Grodno authorities decided to demolish the shrine. The church was blown up in 1961. The foundations of the temple have been preserved to our time.