Catholic churches

Freedom of religion in Belarus is guaranteed by the Constitution, so everyone cannot be ashamed of their faith and freely visit Orthodox, Catholic and other churches. The article will tell you about the peculiarities of Catholicism and introduce you to the best Catholic churches in Belarus.

Catholicism in Belarus

History of Catholicism in Belarus

Catholicism is one of the largest trends in the Christian faith. The Catholic Church in Belarus has been known since the 10th century, and Catholics believe that this is the only church whose founder and head is Jesus Christ himself. The transfer of power from Jesus passed into the hands of the Pope, who heads the Holy See and the Vatican.

The main idea of ​​the Catholic Church is the existence of God in three hypostases: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. There are seven sacraments in Catholicism: baptism, church marriage, chrismation, Eucharist (communion), confession, blessing of oil, priesthood.

In Belarus, the Catholic faith has been known since the 10th century, when Thorvald the Traveler arrived in Polotsk and founded a temple in the city.

The next decisive stage for the Institute of Catholicism is the adoption of Catholicism by Prince Jagiello. Over the years, most of the gentry converted to Catholicism, but the locals continued to support Orthodoxy.

The next important stage for Catholics was the signing of the Brest Union in 1596, according to which the list of privileges for Catholics grew, because their number increased significantly. By the end of the 18th century, 38% of the population (on a par with the Orthodox) had become Catholic in percentage terms.

After the entry of the Republic of Bashkortostan into the USSR, an active struggle against religion began. All the belongings and property of the churches were taken by the state, and their spiritual mentors and ministers were subject to criminal penalties.

On the territory of Western Belarus, the Catholic Church, on the contrary, occupied a high position. At the same time, work began on translating the Bible into Belarusian.

After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, churches and parishes began to open en masse. Today in Belarus the Catholic Church is the second in the number of believers.

Major Catholic holidays

Catholic Holidays Calendar:

• World Day of Peace (the holiday is celebrated annually on January 1);

• Christmas Eve (the holiday is celebrated annually on January 5);

• Epiphany of the Lord (the holiday is celebrated annually on January 6);

• St. Antonio's Day (the holiday is celebrated annually on January 17);

• Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (the holiday is celebrated annually on March 25);

• Nativity of St. John the Baptist (the holiday is celebrated annually on June 24);

• Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (the holiday is celebrated annually on June 29);

• All Saints Day (the holiday is celebrated annually on November 1);

• Day of remembrance of the departed (the holiday is celebrated annually on November 2);

• Nativity of Christ (the holiday is celebrated annually on December 25).

Major Catholic traditions

Nativity. On Christmas Eve, Catholics traditionally gather with the whole family to sit down at the table (the meal consists of lenten dishes). As soon as the first star is lit, solemn services begin in the temples, where every Catholic must be present. Festive food is served on the first day of Christmas, and the more exquisite dishes on the table, the more prosperity the next year will bring. On Christmas Day, Catholics traditionally exchange gifts.

Saint Antonio's Day - the patron saint of animals. In France, on this day, priests bless livestock, which the owners bring to the church.

Palm Sunday. Every year on this holiday, Catholics go to church to illuminate the branches of palm, olive, laurel, boxwood, willow. Those who bring large branches usually decorate them with sweets or fruits. Then these branches are attached to the head of the bed, at crucifixes, fireplaces, etc.

Belarusian Catholic Church

Belarus has its own Roman Catholic Church, where anyone can come to the address Minsk, st. Kaltsova, 153.

All the details about the current mission of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus can be found on the official portal Catholic.by. He informs Catholics and other interested people about church events in Belarus and in the world, presents the official teaching of the local Church and teaches in the spirit of church teaching.

Percentage of Catholic population in Belarus

According to the data of the Catholic Church of the Republic of Belarus, there are approximately 1,402,605 Catholic believers in Belarus. This represents about 15% of the total population of the country.

At the same time, almost 59% of Belarusians consider themselves to be believers.

Visiting Catholic churches

The Catholic Church is always open to everyone, regardless of religion. There are practically no specific rules for visiting, just try to follow the rules of decency when visiting.

In terms of appearance, clothes should not be too revealing. Men, on the other hand, should take off their headwear. When entering the temple, make sure that your phone will be in silent mode. Every Catholic at the entrance kneels down and signs himself with the sign of the cross.

Taking pictures or recording videos is usually not prohibited in such places, but it is better to ask a clarifying question to the attendant or priest.

Architecture of catholic churches

The Catholic Church did not accept the tradition of erecting iconostases in churches, therefore, one can notice completely open altar spaces with the rhythm of the temple space itself from the entrance to the altar.

Catholics prefer a variety of sculptures instead of icons, although the latter are also found in Catholic churches, but in the form of frescoes.

Top 5 most beautiful Catholic churches in Belarus

1. Trinity Church in Gervyaty;

2. Church of St. Francis Xavier in Grodno;

3. Corpus Christi Church (Farny) in Nesvizh;

4. Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vidzy;

5. The Bernardine Church in Budslav.