Cathedral of Saints Simon and Helena

Popularly known as the Red Church for its deep red brickwork, this Roman Catholic church stands on Independence Square in Minsk. Built in the early twentieth century in a neo-Romanesque and Gothic style, it was funded by a nobleman in memory of his two children, after whom it is named. Its trio of towers and richly textured facade contrast sharply with the surrounding government buildings and open plaza. Visitors admire the distinctive brick exterior, step inside the vaulted nave, and note the memorial bell and monuments in the small forecourt.