Description of the attraction
The Vileika Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, or the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in the city of Vileika, Minsk region, is one of the most beautiful Catholic churches, combining features of the Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque styles. The cathedral was built at the beginning of the 20th century in 1906-1913 by the architect August Klein.
In 1862, a strong fire broke out in Vileika, which destroyed a wooden Catholic church. Then it was decided to build a stone church. When the church was already half completed, a national liberation uprising took place, suppressed by Russian troops. After that, the authorities of the Russian Empire handed over the unfinished church to the Orthodox community of the city of Vileika.
After the completion of construction, the temple acquired Byzantine pseudo-Russian features and was consecrated as St. George's Church. The Catholic community erected a wooden church in which the believers continued to pray. In 1913, a yellow brick temple was built and consecrated in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
During the First World War, the Vileika Church was damaged by shelling. In the years when the city came under Polish jurisdiction, the church was carefully restored.
After the end of the Second World War, the temple was confiscated from believers by the Soviet authorities and turned into an ordinary warehouse.
After the collapse of the USSR in 1990, the Vileika Church of the Exaltation of the Cross was transferred to the Catholic community. Now it is a functioning Catholic church and a true decoration of the central square of Vileika.
