Mahiloŭ cathedral’s windows broken in an “act of vandalism”

January 20, BPN. Unidentified vandals broke the windows in one of the most historically important shrines, the Cathedral Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Stanislaus in Mahiloŭ, early on January 20, the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus reported.

“Windows of the presbytery were damaged. Windows of the Chapel of Our Lady of Białyničy and St Anthony of Padua were broken, including windows of the premises hosting meetings of the Legion of Mary and the AA group. Windows of the basement rooms under the Chapel of Our Lady of Białyničy were broken as well,” it wrote on its website.

The parish has asked a police department in Mahiloŭ to launch “an investigation into the act of vandalism” and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Baroque church in Mahiloŭ was built between 1738 and 1752. It is famous for its unique frescoes from the second half of the 18th century. The Soviet government used it as a state archive.