Former Jesuit monastery description and photos - Belarus: Polotsk (Topic)

Former Jesuit monastery description and photos - Belarus: Polotsk. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Jesuit collegium in Polotsk was founded in the 16th century during the reign of Stephen Batory. Polotsk, a traditionally Orthodox city, was captured during the Lithuanian War in 1579. In order to establish Catholicism in it - the main faith of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the king turned to the Jesuit clergy with a request to found a monastery and a collegium in Polotsk.

In 1580, the collegium was consecrated. From that moment on, Polotsk turned into a major European religious and educational center. In addition to religious disciplines, secular sciences are taught here: rhetoric, languages, music, ancient literature.

Despite the fact that Polotsk was a bone of contention between Russia and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, despite repeated devastation and fires, the collegium developed and grew, building is better and more beautiful every time. In the 17th century, the collegium already had a library, an art gallery, a pharmacy, a charitable hospital, a theater and a printing house.

In 1777, Catherine II, known for her sympathies for the Jesuit order, by special decree allowed the opening of a Catholic church in Polotsk. novitiate. After the ban on the activities of the Jesuit order in Europe, Polotsk becomes a kind of Jesuit capital. Prominent scientists and religious leaders come here.

In 1812, by the decree of Emperor Alexander I, the Polotsk Jesuit College was transformed into an academy. In 1820, due to the authorities' concern about the missionary activities of the Jesuits on the territory of the Russian Empire, the academy was closed, and the Jesuits were expelled from Russia.

In the 19th century, within the walls of the former Jesuit collegium, the Polotsk Higher School was first located, then the Polotsk Cadet Corps. In Soviet times, a military hospital operated here. Since 2005, the former Jesuit collegium has housed two faculties of Polotsk State University: historical-philological and information technologies.

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Topic: Former Jesuit monastery description and photos - Belarus: Polotsk.