Petro-Pavlovsk Church

The cathedral in the name of the holy apostles Peter and Paul is also known as the Catherine Church. It is one of the oldest functioning Orthodox churches in Minsk. Within the walls of the temple there are two brotherhoods - in the name of the Three Vilna Martyrs and the brotherhood of medical students in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

They are very proud and love this temple. Its difficult history began in the XVI century, when the Crimean ham burned down the city and took all the inhabitants prisoner. Gradually, the city was rebuilt, but the Catholic faith prevailed throughout the territory. Few Orthodox organized a community and with voluntary donations on their own decided to build a large church, which would have a parish school, a monastery and a library. Thus appeared the Petro-Pavlovsk Church. Catholics were against the spread of the “Russian faith” in the city and several times tried to close it and hand it over to the Uniate clergy. But despite this, the monastery expanded its influence and eventually received the approval of the king of the Commonwealth Vladislav the Fourth.

Since then, the church has served not only as a stronghold of faith, but also as a carrier of Slavic culture, traditions and education. In the XVIII century, the cathedral became very dilapidated and the head of the restoration project, together with the Minsk authorities, came to the conclusion that the cathedral did not belong here. The main building was moved, and only the Catherine Church remained on the old one. Today, a new gilded cross and eight new bells are installed in the temple.