Description of the attraction
The chapel of St. Casimir in Zhlobin was built in 1911. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were a large number of Catholics in Zhlobin. Many of them came to the city at the invitation of the authorities to help build a railway and organize a railway connection. Most of the specialists who arrived were Poles of the Catholic faith. In 1905, there were already 4,500 Catholics in Zhlobin. They prayed in a cramped temporary house of worship, since there was not even a Catholic chapel in the city.
On May 24, 1909, the authorities gave permission to build a Catholic church. At that time, a new church was being built in the neighboring town of Rogachev. The old - still solid wooden temple was subject to demolition. Thanks to the diligence of the rector, Father Alexander Boltuts, the old Rogachev temple was redeemed for 900 rubles, disassembled and transported to Zhlobin. The site for the construction of the Catholic church was donated by Prince Drutsky-Sokolinsky.
In 1911, the temple was consecrated as the chapel of St. Casimir. He worked until 1934, when the Bolsheviks closed all the churches in Zhlobin. During the Nazi occupation, the Nazis, fulfilling an agreement with the Vatican, opened all the churches in the city and allowed them to hold services. Since there was no chaplain in the city, a German military chaplain conducted the services.
After the end of the war, the chapel of St. Casimir was closed again and the premises were transferred to a kindergarten. In 1980, after a major overhaul, a local history museum was opened here.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Catholics have repeatedly asked the authorities to return the shrine. The authorities refused to give the museum premises, but handed over to the believers a Soviet-built trading building, which was rebuilt into the chapel of St. Casimir with funds raised by Zhlobin's Catholics.
In the near future, a new church of St. Casimir is planned to be erected in Zhlobin. The cathedral will be built in the Gothic style. The author of the project is V. Katerli. The height of the future cathedral (with a spire) is 36 meters.
