Red Church

Infobox religious building
building_name=Church of Sts. Simon and Helena
Касцёл Свсв. Сымона і Алены


caption=The Red Church
location=Minsk, Belarus
geo=coord|53|53|47.47|N|27|32|50.92|E|type:landmark_region:BY
religious_affiliation=Roman Catholic
district=
consecration_year=1910
status=
leadership=
website=
architect=Tamash Payzderski
architecture_type=Church
architecture_style=
facade_direction=
year_completed=1910
construction_cost=
capacity=
length=
width=
width_nave=
height_max=
dome_quantity=
dome_height_outer=
dome_height_inner=
dome_dia_outer=
dome_dia_inner=
minaret_quantity=
minaret_height=
spire_quantity=
spire_height=
materials=clay bricks

Church of Saints Simon and Helena, Minsk ( _be. Касцёл святых Сымона і Алены) also known as the Red Church ( _be. Чырвоны касцёл) is a Roman Catholic church on the Independence Square in Minsk.

The church was built in 1905-1910. The construction was financed by Edvard Vaynilovich, a prominent Belarusian civic activist. The church was named and consecrated in the memory of Vaynilovich's departed children Symon (Simon) and Alena (Helen).

In 1923 the church was robbed by the Red Army and in 1932 it was closed down by the Soviet authorities and transferred to the State Polish Theatre of the BSSR. Before the Second World War the church was reconstructed into a film studio.

In 1941 the German occupation administration allowed the church to be used again, but after the war it was closed down yet again.

In 1990 the building was given back to the Catholic Church. Since then it was renewed and became an important centre of religious, cultural and social life. It also became a centre for the revived Belarusian Greek Catholic Church.

Links

* [http://www.redchurch.by.ru Unofficial website of the church]
* [http://www.radzima.org/pub/pomnik.php?lang=by&nazva_id=mememens09 Photos at Radzima.org]
* [http://globus.tut.by/minsk/symon_gallery.htm Photos at Globus.tut.by]