Churches of Belarus (part DVIII): Roman Catholic church of Saints Simon and Helena, also known as the “Red Church” (1905-1910), Mjensk 2001.
One of the most active Roman Catholic parishes in Belarus. The Soviet occupiers expropriated the church’s sacred artifacts and treasure in 1923, desecrated the church, and turned it into a cinema; the church re-opened under Nazi occupation but was again confiscated by the Soviet re-occupiers after World War II and again used as a cinema; the Roman Catholic church in Belarus was able to regain control of the church and begin restoration work only in 1990. The current Belarusian regime has re-grabbed the church is now trying to extort money for permission to continue Holy Masses and other normal church activity.
Касьцёлы Беларусі (частка DVIII): касьцёл Сьвятых Сымона й Алены (1905-1910 гг.), Менск 2001 г.
