Our Lady of the Joy of All Who Sorrow church in Minsk, Eastern Orthodox church in Minsk, Belarus.
Our Lady of the Joy of All Who Sorrow is an Eastern Orthodox church in Minsk built in the Russian Revival style, reaching about 70 meters in height (roughly 230 feet). Its facades are covered with ornamental details, and the building rises clearly above the surrounding urban landscape.
The church was built after the Soviet Union ended, when Orthodox communities in Belarus were again free to construct religious buildings. The architects looked to 19th-century Russian church design for inspiration while using modern construction methods.
The church takes its name from a Marian icon venerated in the Orthodox tradition as a source of comfort for those in sorrow. Inside, visitors can see a richly decorated iconostasis and hand-painted wall paintings that follow the conventions of Orthodox religious art.
The church is an active place of worship, so it is best to visit outside of service hours if you want time to look around calmly. Modest clothing is expected when entering, and photography may be restricted inside.
The domes of this church are black rather than gold, which is uncommon for an Orthodox building of this size. This was a deliberate choice by the architects and gives the church a profile that stands apart from most other Orthodox churches in the city.
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