Description of the attraction
The Vileika Church of St. Mary of Egypt was built on the main square of the city of Vileika in 1816.
The beginning of the 19th century is characterized by the confrontation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. The government of the Russian Empire in every possible way encouraged the construction of Orthodox churches on the territory of the former Rzeczpospolita and oppressed Catholics. Therefore, in Vileika, the temple of St. Mary of Egypt was built opposite the Catholic Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.
The temple is stylized in the old Russian style, imitating the Moscow style of the 17th century. This romantic retrospective style is typical of the Silver Age of Russia. An interesting architectural feature of this church is that a clock is installed on its tower, which is usually not done in Orthodox churches.
Saint Mary of Egypt is considered the Christian patroness of repentant sinners and, in particular, repentant harlots. This beautiful and depraved woman lived in Egypt in the 5th century. Once, out of nothing to do, she set out on a journey with pilgrims, whom she decided to seduce on a long sea voyage. She was very surprised that Christians did not fall for her spell. Then the woman became interested in the temple where the pilgrims were traveling. No matter how much she tried to enter it, she could not. And only when she repented and with tears renounced her sinful life, she was able to enter the temple. Mary was baptized and withdrew into the desert beyond the Jordan in order to live in solitude and prayers of repentance.
