Polotsk. St. Andrew Boboli Church

The architects have done a tremendous job to make the temple look harmonious and impressive. The interior of the temple is richly decorated with many frescoes created according to the sketches of Valerian Yanushkevich. These frescoes depict biblical scenes, as well as moments from the life of St. Andrew Boboli. Additionally, there are dramatic scenes of the deaths of five Uniate priests who were martyred in St. Sophia Cathedral by order of Peter I. An organ is installed in the choir, which was donated by German friends.

The church building is multi-storied, asymmetrical, made in a modern style, and a Sunday school building is attached to it. One of the main parts of the exterior is a five-tiered bell tower topped with a sloping tent, which looks elegant and majestic.

And although the date of the construction of the white-stone Church of St. Andrew Boboli is 1997, this in no way detracts from its significance and greatness. This architectural gem takes pride of place among the local attractions. Believers are willing to travel long distances to be able to personally visit the temple, walk around its surroundings and touch its walls. Practice shows that such a visit is really worth all the effort.

Andrei Bobolya, who came from a noble family, was born on November 30, 1591 in Poland. He grew up in a family with strong Catholic traditions. On July 31, 1611, after completing a five-year course at the Jesuit school, Andrei decided to join the Society of Jesus in Vilnius.

In 1624, due to his outstanding preaching abilities, Andrei Bobolya was transferred to Vilnius, to the Church of St. Nicholas. Kazimir. In 1630, immediately after the solemn taking of eternal vows, he was sent from Vilnius to Bobruisk, where he became the first rector of the Jesuit residence.

At the end of 1642, Andrei Bobol was sent to Pinsk, where he conducted selfless missionary work. In those years, many Orthodox Christians visited the Jesuit temple to listen to sermons and explanations of the basics of faith. Many Orthodox noblemen sent their children to the Jesuit college. The students who were taught by the future saint loved him and were grateful for his kindness and attention.

In 1657, Andrei Bobolya was killed by the Cossacks of Bogdan Khmelnitsky. He was subjected to severe torture: they whipped him and mutilated his face, trying to force him to renounce his faith. After a demonstrative execution, they tied him with a rope, tied him to a pair of horses and sent him back to Yanov, where they hung him from the ceiling by his feet. A sword strike ended his earthly life. He died for his faith and was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church after his death.