Trinity Suburb

The Trinity Hill is the oldest surviving district of Minsk; in the past it was not part of the downtown, rather a suburb, hence another name, Trinity Suburb (Trajeckaje pradmiescie). The historic neighbourhood sprawls along the left bank of the Svislach River in the southeastern part of the modern city. The Belarusian 5-ruble bill featured an image of Trinity Suburb.

There are several hypotheses about the name. The most common relates it to the first Roman Catholic church in Minsk, the Trinity and Assumption of Mary Church, which was, according to a legend, founded by Władysław II Jagiełło. Another suggestion is Trinity Convent, of which little remains.

The Trinity and Assumption church, Trinity Convent, the Ascension Monastery, the church of Sts. Boris and Gleb, and a synagogue whiche existed there, have disappeared. Today it is an area of 19th-century housing, mostly restored after the ravages of World War II. Modern buildings include the national opera and ballet theatre and the Island of Tears memorial.

Etimology

There are several hypotheses about the origin of the toponym "Trinity Hill". According to the most popular, the toponym comes from the name of the ancient Trinity Catholic Church in Minsk, founded by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland Jogaila. According to another version, the toponym comes from the name of the defensive redoubt of the Holy Trinity, which was located near the Borisov outpost. There is also an opinion that the name came from the Church of the Holy Trinity or the Holy Trinity Convent.

External links

• Official website of the Republic of Belarus
• Media related to Trajeckaje pradmiescie at Wikimedia Commons