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| 3454 The Assumpton Cathedral in Vitebsk |
Built in a picturesque place, on the high bank of the Western Dvina River, the Assumption Cathedral is one of the outstanding monuments of the architecture of Vitebsk. It is also the only cathedral in Vitebsk, the lower active layer of which is located underground. The Assumption mountain, where now the cathedral stands, has been used for construction of religious buildings during thousands of years. Initially, there was a pagan shrine, and with the birth of Christianity a church was built at this place, which burned more than once in fires.
One of the fires dated to 1708, when Vitebsk was burned by order of Peter I, but soon Adam Kisel restored the monastery buildings at his own expense and the church, named in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, was rebuilt with the money of the monastic brotherhood. In 1722 it burned completely again. The construction of a stone church began only in 1743, being completed in 1785. In 1799, according to the decree of Emperor Paul I, the church was renamed into the Assumption Cathedral. In 1812 it was ruthlessly robbed by French troops.
After establishment the Soviet power, the cathedral was closed, and in 1936 the temple was blew up. After 15 years a workshop of the grinding machines factory was built on this place, but in the 80s the building fell into disrepair, and in 1998 the workshop was demolished. In 1998, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II laid a capsule with a commemorative diploma and blessed the first stone at the place of the temple construction. The ceremonial opening of the cathedral, dedicated to the great church holiday - the Annunciation - was held on April 7, 2011.
About the stamp
The stamp, designed by Marina Vitkovskaya, was issued on January 3, 2017 to honore Postcrossing.
References
The Holy Assumption Cathedral: the relic is immortal - Vitebsk website
Sender: Natali / NatinNatik (postcrossing) BY-2608487
Sent from Minsk (Minsk City / Belarus), on 20.02.2020
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