GRODNO, 30 July (BelTA) – The reconstruction of Sts Boris and Hleb Church (Kalozha Church) in Grodno will become an all-community project, BelTA learnt from chairman of the Grodno oblast executive committee Semyon Shapiro.
A session held by the governor and attended by the heads of the Grodno companies, structural subdivisions of the oblast executive committee and clergy, focused on the ways to reconstruct the church.
Sts Boris and Hleb Church is a calling card of Grodno. This specimen of the Orthodox architecture of the twelfth century is located on the Neman river bank. There are no direct analogues to the church, which is a masterpiece of the Grodno Architecture School anywhere. The church was badly damaged by floods and landslides in the nineteenth century. The restoration works in 1896-1906 gave the church its present look. The first steps to return the church its original appearance were made in 2000-2005. The bank of the Neman River was reinforced. The architectural design was developed and examined. The work was underway on designing a construction estimates. Yet, the works were brought to a standstill due to the lack of financing.
This time the region is set to finish what had been started. The best way to restore the sacred place is to give it a status of an all-community project. Every company, organization and resident of the region will be able to contribute to the project. The funds will be raised in numerous ways, with the help of charities, lotteries, and days of voluntary work. Semyon Shapiro believes Grodno residents will not miss out an opportunity to contribute to the restoration of the ancient shrine.
During the preparatory and reconstruction works, the believers will have a place for prayers. A parish compound with Sunday school, a chapel, baptismal room and a library will be built 70 meters away from the main alley of Kalozha Park. The compound is projected to be built in a year. The restoration of the church is slated for completion in two years. After the restoration the place will acquire the looks typical of the late eighteenth- mid nineteenths centuries.
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