Church of Saint Mary, Vishnyeva

Church of Saint Mary
Касцёл Адведзінаў Найсвяцейшай Панны Марыі
54°08′32″N 26°12′36″E / 54.1422°N 26.2099°E / 54.1422; 26.2099
Location	Vishnyeva
Country	Belarus
Denomination	Catholic Church (Latin Church)
History
Founder(s)	Jerzy Chreptowicz [pl]
Architecture
Style	Baroque
Years built	1637—1641
Administration
Diocese	Archdiocese of Minsk–Mohilev

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 [pl] river. The church is listed as a Belarus Cultural Heritage object.

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]

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

• 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.