Description of the attraction
The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Brest was built in 1856. The majestic cathedral is a monument of late classicism. The three-nave Catholic church is rectangular in plan.
The temple was built on the central square of Brest, which is now called Lenin Square. On the other side of the square stands a bronze statue of the leader of the world proletariat with a traditionally outstretched hand. The hand indicates the direction … to the Holy Cross Church, which is very symbolic.
In 1948 the temple was closed. During the conversion of the church into a museum, the side turrets were demolished from it and the interior was redone. A local history museum has been opened here since the mid-1950s.
The building was not destroyed during the years of Soviet power, apparently because it has excellent acoustics and a wonderful old organ is installed in it. Organ music concerts were held here under the previous government.
In Soviet times, until 1990, the exposition of the Brest Regional Museum of Local Lore was located in the church. Now the museum has been moved from here to another place.
Already in our time, in 2001, the temple was restored and transferred to believing Catholics. The greatest relic was transferred here - an ancient icon of the Mother of God in the setting of the 17th century. Wonderful colored stained-glass windows depicting the Virgin Mary, the apostles and saints have also survived from earlier times.
Masses are regularly held in the temple. As in previous years, the leadership of the temple kindly allows everyone to enjoy concerts of organ music from time to time. Here they perform both sacred and classical, and even modern organ music.
