Church of the Holy Trinity, Gierviaty

Church in Grodno Region, Belarus

Church of the Holy Trinity in Gierviaty

Касцёл Святой Тройцы

Church of the Holy Trinity in Gierviaty

54°41′13″N 26°08′38″E﻿ / ﻿54.68694°N 26.14389°E﻿ / 54.68694; 26.14389
Location| Gierviaty, Astravyets District, Grodno Region
Country| Belarus
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Website| Official website
History
Status| Parish church
Architecture
Functional status| Active
Architect(s)| Alaksiej Połazaŭ, Wacław Michniewicz
Style| Neogothic
Completed| 1899—1903
Specifications
Height| 61 m[1]
Materials| Brick

Church of the Holy Trinity (Belarusian: Касцёл Святой Тройцы, Polish: Kościół Trójcy Przenajświetszej) is a Roman Catholic church in Gierviaty, Grodno Region, in Belarus. It is an example of the Belarusian Neogothic architecture and was built in 1899–1903. The church is a site of cultural heritage of Belarus.[2]

## History[edit]

The first parish in Gierviaty was established in 1526 by the archbishop John.[3] Gradually it fell into decline and in 1621 Eustachy Wołłowicz constructed the new wooden church. It was destroyed by fire in 1736.[4] Almost a hundred years later the philanthropist reconstructed the church.[5] In 1860 Kazimir Domeyko founded the stone bell tower and reconstructed the church in 1862. The last restoration was executed in 1894-1895, but three years later the church was demolished.

Modern building was constructed in place of the old one in 1899—1903.[6] Usually the authorship is attributed to architects Wacław Michniewicz [de] and Alaksiej Połazaŭ (1820-1903). However, some sources claim that the design was created by Ignatiy Olshansky, brother of a local priest. According to the year books, every day 70 men worked at the construction site. Specially for the church a brick factory was built near the village. Lime was mined near the Losha (river) [ru], to make limestone more solid thousands of eggs were bought from local farmers. Roof tiles were imported from Germany. Mostly the funds for construction were donated by Vazlav Domeyko and his mother Anjela, nee Naruszewicz. Her son-in-law brought from Germany the ceramic tiles to the church.[7]

The new church was consecrated on September 8, 1904.

## Architecture[edit]

The Church of the Holy Trinity is a typical example of the Neogothic style. Its height is 61 meter, and it's one of the tallest churches in Belarus.[1] The temple has three naves and a small transept, the naves are separated from each other by two rows of five columns each. There is no apse behind the presbytery. A characteristic element of the architecture of the temple are multi-stage buttresses, turning into flying buttresses. The walls of the temple are cut through with narrow lancet window openings in niches.[8]

In front of the temple there are several wooden crosses with rich carvings, which is typical for Lithuanian temples. Around the temple there is a landscape park with rare plants and figures of the apostles.[1] The church is acknowledged as one of the most beautiful in Belarus, nicknamed ‘Little Switzerland’ and ‘Belarusian Notre-Dame.[9] The church is the main tourist attraction in Gierviaty.[10]

Postcard, 1916

1941-1944

Details

## Plan of the church[edit]

Plan of the church by its architect A. Połazaŭ, 1900

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c About the church on globus.tut.by
2. ^ Збор помнікаў гісторыі і культуры. Гродзенская вобласць. Стр. 89
3. ^ About the church on the website of Catholic church in Belarus
4. ^ "Kościoły i klasztory rzymskokatolickie. Województwo wileńskie. Tom 1. Strona 71". orda.of.by.
5. ^ "Kościoły i klasztory rzymskokatolickie. Województwo wileńskie. Tom 1. Strona 73". orda.of.by.
6. ^ "ФОТОФАКТ: Костел Святой Троицы в деревне Гервяты" [PhotoFact: Church of Holy Trinity in Gierviaty] (in Russian). BelTA. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
7. ^ "Костел в Гервятах – один из самых высоких в Беларуси" [Gierviaty Church — One of the Highest in Belarus] (in Russian). Narodnaya Volya. 2018-12-24. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
8. ^ "Старинные фрески и необычная архитектура. Как строился костёл в Гервятах" [Ancient Frescoes and Extraordinary Architecture. History of Gierviaty Church] (in Russian). S13.ru. 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
9. ^ "Костёл Святой Троицы в Гервятах: маленькая Швейцария, белорусский Нотр-Дам, образец неоготики" [Church of the Holy Trinity, Gierviaty: NeoGothic ‘Little Switzerland’ and ‘Belarusian Notre-Dame] (in Russian). CTV.by. 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
10. ^ "«Он покинул след доброты». Умер священник, который превратил белорусский костел в Гервятах в «Нотр-Дам де Пари»" [Prior of ‘Belarusian Notre-Dame’ Dies] (in Russian). Belarus Today. 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2022-01-12.

## Further reading[edit]

* А. М. Кулагін. Каталіцкія храмы Беларусі. — Мінск: 2008. ISBN 978-985-11-0395-5
* «Гервяты, костел Троицкий» //«Архітэктура Беларусі. Энцыклапедычны даведнік». Мінск, «Беларуская Энцыклапедыя імя Петруся Броўкі», 1993 год. ISBN 5-85700-078-5

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of the Holy Trinity in Gierviaty.

* Church interior on Google Street View

* v
* t
* e

Catholic Church in Belarus

Episcopal Conference of Belarus

Dioceses|

* Archdiocese of Minsk–Mohilev
* Diocese of Grodno
* Diocese of Pinsk
* Diocese of Vitebsk

Churches|

* Cathedrals:
* Cathedral of the Holy Name of Saint Virgin Mary
* Co-Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin and St. Stanislaus, Mogilev
* St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Grodno
* Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pinsk
* Cathedral of the Merciful Jesus, Vitebsk
* Old Cathedral of St. Barbara and St. Paul, Vitebsk

* Churches:
* Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Budslau
* St. Mary's Church, Grodno
* St. Michael the Archangel, Ivyanets
* Church of Saint John the Baptist, Kamai
* Church of Holy Trinity, Minsk
* Church of Saints Simon and Helena, Minsk
* St. Nicholas' Church, Mir
* Transfiguration Church, Navahrudak
* Corpus Christi Church, Nesvizh
* Church of the Assumption, Pruzhany
* Church of the Holy Trinity, Gierviaty
* Church of Mother of God of the Rosary, Soly

Former dioceses|

* Archdiocese of Mohilev
* Archeparchy of Polotsk–Vitebsk
* Eparchy of Volodymyr–Brest
* Apostolic Exarchate of Belarus

Belarusian Byzantine|

* Belarusian Greek Catholic Church
* Leo Garoshka
* Ceslaus Sipovich
* Alexander Nadson
* Sergiusz Gajek

Relations|

* Apostolic Nunciature to Belarus
* Archbishop Ante Jozić

See also|

* Ruthenian Uniate Church
* Church of St Cyril of Turau, London
* Our Lady of Budslau
* Kalvaryja
* Byaroza Monastery

* Catholicism portal
* Belarus portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template