The Church of Saint Mary in Vishnyeva is a Catholicparish church in Minsk Region, Belarus. It was constructed in 1637–1641 on the banks of Holszanka [pl] river. The church is listed as a Belarus Cultural Heritage object.
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 [pl] and consecrated in honor of the Visitation. After his death, Jerzy Chreptowicz was buried in the church's crypt.[1][2]
In 1771 the church was restored after fire on donations of the philanthropist Adam Chreptowicz [pl]. In that period two sacristies were added to the altar part.[1]
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[1][2]
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.[1]
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