Vishnevo. Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Story

The Catholic parish in Vishnevo was founded in the 15th century by Grand Duke Vitovt; in 1424, a wooden church was built here at the expense of Peter Senka Gedigoldovich. A stone church in its place was erected in 1637-1641 at the expense of the Novogrudok governor Jerzy Khreptowicz. The founder of the temple was buried in the crypt. The church was consecrated in honor of the Visitation (meeting of Mary and Elizabeth) in 1675 by the Bishop of Slupsk. In 1771, the temple was restored after a fire at the expense of A. Khreptovich; during the restoration, the sacristies that were missing before were added to the altar. In 1906, the church underwent another reconstruction - a narrow narthex in a pseudo-baroque style was added; the previously towerless façade was crowned with two small square towers. During the Soviet period, the temple was not closed. Since 1953, services have been conducted in the Belarusian language.

Architecture

The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a single-nave church with a semicircular apse and low side sacristies. The facade is three-tiered, the upper tier is formed by tetrahedral towers and a figured shield between them. The vaults are decorated with stucco decoration from the 17th century. The polychrome painting of the vaults and pylons was done by the artist Ferdinand Ruszczyc. The main altar is made of wood in the 18th century, decorated with sculptures and carved patterns. In the central part of the altar is an icon of the Mother of God. To the east of the temple there is a gate, which also serves as a bell tower. Built in the second half of the 19th century. Above the wide arched passage are three openings with bells, topped by three small pediments.

The church is an architectural monument included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values.