{"id":205498,"date":"2026-09-28T20:23:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T17:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/205498\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T20:23:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T17:23:24","slug":"red-church-renovation-delayed-by-15-months-reports","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/205498\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Church renovation delayed by 15 months \u2013 reports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (belarusgid.com)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

September 28, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> The renovation of the St. Simeon and Helena Church (Red Church) in Minsk, closed for four years, was set to be completed in late April 2028 instead of January 31, 2027, Katolik.life<\/em> reports, citing official documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of the spring of 2026, no work was being carried out on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former church dean U\u0142adzis\u0142a\u016d Zavalniuk confirmed that a broken window preceded the fire, which forced worshippers to leave the church. He said the blaze damaged a small auxiliary room, while water used to extinguish it flooded the entire church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The priest urged believers not to lose hope and to continue praying for the swift completion of the reconstruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government closed down the church, one of Minsk\u2019s landmarks, in September 2022, citing fire safety concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the 2020 presidential election, the relationship between the state and the Catholic Church deteriorated as many priests and faithful denounced police brutality and repression. Some clerics were arrested or forced to flee the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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