Description of the attraction
The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier (Farny Church) in Grodno is a visiting card of the city and the most beautiful Catholic church of the Commonwealth. The name "Farny" comes from the word parafia (parafia) - the main temple.
King Stefan Batory dreamed of such a large and beautiful temple in Grodno in the 16th century. This monarch loved Grodno very much and wanted to make it a great city. For the realization of his dream, the king allocated a substantial amount - 10 thousand zlotys (at that time, fabulous money), however, he did not succeed in carrying out his plans during his lifetime.
The Jesuits who settled here in the 17th century returned to the idea of building a large Catholic church in Grodno. Having received a building permit, Bishop Nikolai Slupsky blessed the beginning of the construction of a church in honor of the great missionary, personal friend of the founder of the Jesuit order Ignatius Loyola, Francis Xavier (Francisco Javier), canonized in 1619. This choice of the patron saint was not accidental. From now on, Grodno became an outpost of Catholicism in Eastern Europe. Francis Xavier was the most successful missionary in Christian history. He managed to conquer the countries of Asia, Africa, India and China.
The church was consecrated in 1705. The consecration ceremony was attended by two foreign monarchs - Peter I and August II. The majestic cathedral, built to amaze the imagination, made a strong impression on the powerful crowned heads.
Later, the Jesuits built a whole quarter, which included the Farny Church, a monastery, a collegium, a library, a pharmacy and household services.
The Farny Church is an architectural masterpiece of the Baroque style. Its wooden altar, the height of a seven-story building, is decorated with 20 figures of apostles and saints. The statues are decorated with marble, and the graceful columns on which they rest are lavishly gilded.
In one of the cathedral's bell towers, a clock mechanism is mounted, which is recognized as the oldest in the world. The watch is powered by a huge 60-kilogram stone that descends from a 15-meter height. On June 23, 1987, after the restoration, the clock runs again and the whole of Grodno hears their bell ringing.
