Church of Saint Mary, Vishnyeva

The Church of Saint Mary in Vishnyeva is a Catholic parish church in Minsk Region, Belarus. It was constructed in 1637–1641 on the banks of Holszanka river. The church is listed as a Belarus Cultural Heritage object.

Church of Saint Mary
Касцёл Адведзінаў Найсвяцейшай Панны Марыі
54.1422°N 26.2099°E / 54.1422; 26.2099
Location	Vishnyeva
Country	Belarus
Denomination	Catholic Church (Latin Church)
History
Founder(s)	Jerzy Chreptowicz
Architecture
Style	Baroque
Years built	1637—1641
Administration
Diocese	Archdiocese of Minsk–Mohilev

History

The main altar in 2012

The first Catholic parish in Vishnyeva was established in the 15th century by Vytautas the Great, in 1424 a wooden church was built by Petras Gedgaudas. The stone church was constructed in 1637–1641 on donations of Nowogródek Voivoda Jerzy Chreptowicz and consecrated in honor of the Visitation. After his death, Jerzy Chreptowicz was buried in the church's crypt.

In 1771 the church was restored after fire on donations of the philanthropist Adam Chreptowicz. In that period two sacristies were added to the altar part.

In 1906 the church was reconstructed again, a narthex and two square-shaped towers were added to the main building. The interiors were painted by the Polish artist Ferdynand Ruszczyc

Unlike the majority of the churches of the former Russian Empire, the Church of Saint Mary in Vishnyeva was not closed during the Soviet times.

Gallery

• 
  Watercolor by Ferdynand Ruszczyc, 1902
• 
  Photo circa 1900
• 
  The church in 2015

Sources

• Kulagin, A. M. (1993). Архітэктура Беларусі. Энцыклапедычны даведнік» [Belarusian Architecture: Encyclopedia]. Minsk: «Беларуская Энцыклапедыя імя Петруся Броўкі». p. 132. ISBN 5-85700-078-5.
• Gabrus, T. V. (2001). Мураваныя харалы: сакральная архітэктура беларускага барока [Painted Chorals: Religious Architecture of Belarusian Baroque]. Minsk: «Ураджай». p. 287. ISBN 985-04-0499-X.