St. Mary Magdalene Church

During the war of 1812, the wooden church in the name of St. Mary Magdalene, located in the old cemetery, became the main Orthodox church of Minsk. In those years, the cemetery was called "Perespensky" - after the name of a small river. This is one of the oldest cemeteries, the mention of which is found in written sources of the XVI century. However, the church stood only until 1835, when it was destroyed by a terrible fire, as well as most of the city buildings.

In 1844, it was decided to restore the cemetery and build a stone temple to replace the burned. For three years, the construction of a new church was carried out on voluntary donations of citizens. For more than half a century, the temple stood without any shocks, but after the revolution it was looted: silver robes were removed from the icons, church utensils were stolen. And in 1932, the cemetery was destroyed, the marble slabs from which were used as curb stones for paving sidewalks. Five years later, the church was closed.

During the Great Patriotic War, the authorities allowed the opening of churches and in 1941, on the day of the celebration of the memory of St. Mary Magdalene, divine services were resumed in the church. However, in 1950, the church was again closed and rebuilt, and the city archive moved to the building. Only in 1990 was the restoration carried out, after which the temple was again consecrated and transferred to the faithful. Now a particle of the relics of St. Mary Magdalene is stored here, as well as the myrrhaging image of St. Nicholas. Among the most revered shrines of the Church of Mary Magdalene is a cross with particles of the relics of God’s saints, which Patriarch Alexy II presented as a gift during one of his visits to Belarus.