VINNYTSIA

Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Angels

Churches

Description

  • The founder of the monastery was Ludwig Kalinowski, Vinnytsia elected head, who in 1746 invited the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin to the city.

In the midst of the noisy, modern city center there is an ascetic ancient temple of the Capuchin Order. The founder of the monastery was Ludwig Kalinowski, Vinnytsia elected head, who in 1746 invited the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin to the city. At that time, the monastery was located on the outskirts of the city, and there was a forest at the back of it. Fifteen years later, the temple has been completely constructed at the St. Francis Capuchin monastery and consecrated under the wing of the Virgin Mary of the Angel. The Rule of Order forbade unnecessary decorations, so the temple was built in Tuscan Baroque – the repressed style with magnificent and expressive forms. To the left there were monk’s cells, to the right – a bell tower. The religious house had also a system of underground accommodation with the purpose to protect against enemy attacks and store food, there were also basements under the temple for coffins. These basements were tunneled with Vinnytsia catacombs - underground passages that connected important objects of urban infrastructure in the 17th - 18th centuries.

In the midst of the noisy, modern city center there is an ascetic ancient temple of the Capuchin Order. The founder of the monastery was Ludwig Kalinowski, Vinnytsia elected head, who in 1746 invited the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin to the city. At that time, the monastery was located on the outskirts of the city, and there was a forest at the back of it. Fifteen years later, the temple has been completely constructed at the St. Francis Capuchin monastery and consecrated under the wing of the Virgin Mary of the Angel. The Rule of Order forbade unnecessary decorations, so the temple was built in Tuscan Baroque – the repressed style with magnificent and expressive forms. To the left there were monk’s cells, to the right – a bell tower. The religious house had also a system of underground accommodation with the purpose to protect against enemy attacks and store food, there were also basements under the temple for coffins. These basements were tunneled with Vinnytsia catacombs - underground passages that connected important objects of urban infrastructure in the 17th - 18th centuries.

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HISTORY

  • In 1990 the Catholic community obtained this temple building and two years later Capuchins came back to Vinnytsia to their old-established religious house.

The monastery belonged to the Capuchins until 1888, after that they were forced to leave their last religious house on the territory of Ukraine according to the decree of the tsar. They sought shelter in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Some of them changed into priestly garbs and served in Roman Catholic parishes. Monk’s cells were transformed into tsar barracks. Only eparchial priests were allowed to serve in the temple. During the Ukrainian revolution in 1917‒1921 the Ministry of Cults (religion) of the Ukrainian People’s Republic was housed here. In the 1930s a part of the premises was rebuilt and transformed into an aero club and a dwelling house, and in the 1960s the temple was rebuilt to be used as a lecture hall, completely demolishing the temple elements. Its basement was then used as a bomb shelter.

In 1990 the Catholic community obtained this temple building and two years later Capuchins came back to Vinnytsia to their old-established religious house. In the late 1990s, an organ was installed in the temple. It had been restored from the wreckage of the instrument that survived after the neighboring cathedral (former Organ Hall of the Philharmonic) was given to representatives of the Orthodox parish.

The monastery belonged to the Capuchins until 1888, after that they were forced to leave their last religious house on the territory of Ukraine according to the decree of the tsar. They sought shelter in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Some of them changed into priestly garbs and served in Roman Catholic parishes. Monk’s cells were transformed into tsar barracks. Only eparchial priests were allowed to serve in the temple. During the Ukrainian revolution in 1917‒1921 the Ministry of Cults (religion) of the Ukrainian People’s Republic was housed here. In the 1930s a part of the premises was rebuilt and transformed into an aero club and a dwelling house, and in the 1960s the temple was rebuilt to be used as a lecture hall, completely demolishing the temple elements. Its basement was then used as a bomb shelter.

In 1990 the Catholic community obtained this temple building and two years later Capuchins came back to Vinnytsia to their old-established religious house. In the late 1990s, an organ was installed in the temple. It had been restored from the wreckage of the instrument that survived after the neighboring cathedral (former Organ Hall of the Philharmonic) was given to representatives of the Orthodox parish.

INTERESTING FACTS

  • The facade of the church faces the central street which is an ancient historical road. After the Capuchin monastery was completely constructed, it was for some time called the Capuchin Road, which passed into the Lityn Way. The present name of the street is Soborna.
  • During the outbreak of the plague epidemic in the dungeons of the monastery, the churchmen cooked soup from beer which helped the sick to recover.
  • Some believe that in the basements of the complex there is a ghost of a monk who fell into a tub with beer wort. Somehow the ghost even got to be photographed. You should not be afraid of the spirit of Father Shimon: the monks consider him to be the protector of their monastery.
  • You can hear the "heart of Vinnytsia" beating on the street between the temple and the cathedral. This resonance occurs when a tram is going over the basements located under the Cathedral.
  • The facade of the church faces the central street which is an ancient historical road. After the Capuchin monastery was completely constructed, it was for some time called the Capuchin Road, which passed into the Lityn Way. The present name of the street is Soborna.
  • During the outbreak of the plague epidemic in the dungeons of the monastery, the churchmen cooked soup from beer which helped the sick to recover.
  • Some believe that in the basements of the complex there is a ghost of a monk who fell into a tub with beer wort. Somehow the ghost even got to be photographed. You should not be afraid of the spirit of Father Shimon: the monks consider him to be the protector of their monastery.
  • You can hear the "heart of Vinnytsia" beating on the street between the temple and the cathedral. This resonance occurs when a tram is going over the basements located under the Cathedral.