religion

A cross procession dedicated to celebrating Belynichiskaya icon of the Mother of God will be held on April 24-25 (April 12 - in the old style). According to the legend, the icon existed in the Xth century, and was brought to the Belarusian lands by monks of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in the XIIIth century. The name of the settlement is supposed to be taken from the name of this miraculous icon that shined at night as on a sunny noon. The icon is depicted at the town’s modern coat of arms.

“Mogotex” Company to allot Br100 m to construct the bell tower of the Svyato-Troitsky church and font in Mogilev district. The information is provided by Viktor Matievich, the director general of the company.

XX International festival of spiritual music “Mighty Bozha” will be held in Mogilev on June 24-28, a source from the festival’s organisational committee informed. Guests from the CIS and other foreign countries, including the USA, will take part in conferences, meetings, concerts, vocal and choral contest.

The first issue of a religious and education bulletin became a Christmas present for Krichev’s citizens. The information is provided by Alexander Boldovsky, the editor of the bulletin, Writers' Union member.

The church-monument in the name of the apostles Petr and Pavel will serve the liturgy. The church was built in Lesnaya village (Slavgorod district, Mogilev region) at the place of the battle with the Swedes during the Great Northern War. The liturgy is dedicated to the centenary of consecration of the apostles Petr and Pavel Church. The information is provided by the Regional Religion and Nationalities Affairs Department.

Chigirinka village, Kirovsk district is about to complete construction of the Rozhdestva Presvyatoi Bogoroditsy Temple (the temple of the nativity of the Virgin Mary). In spite of the fact that construction works are still to be completed, every Saturday a priest and choir men from Kirovsk hold the liturgy at the temporal building of the temple. The parish was registered last July for the population of Chigirinki village and 11 neighboring villages.

The Bobruisk Eparchy began to gather documents to canonize Natalia Vorontsova-Veliyaminova. A granddaughter of Alexander Pushkin lived in the estate not far from Bobruisk. In the village of Telusha she founded a school for peasant children and allotted money to construct there the Svato-Nikolsky Church.

The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral which is being built in Mogilev will become the largest Orthodox cathedral in Belarus. There 3.5 church-goers can join the church service.

The first in the Republic holographic exposition “Mystery of the Cross of Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk” opens at Mogilev regional arts museum named after Maslennikov. “The idea to create such a unique project for visitors to see a famous cross and other Belarusian treasures having been lost, appeared long ago”, - deputy director of the museum Svetlana Strogina told.

Orthodox believers of Svyatovoznesenskaya church at Chaussy suggested to hold an action aimed against using foul language. The proposal was supported by schools, libraries, clubs, law enforcement authorities.

The Orthodox chapel was built at Kamensky boarding school of Bobruisk district. The information is provided by the headmistress of the school Galina Savchenko.

A wooden church in the honor of Saint Seraphim of Sarov will be built in Zapadny micro-district of Bobruisk. The construction has been blessed by Seraphim, bishop Bobruisk and Bykhov. Money transfers, charitable sms and phone calls and other types of contributions are being received . The priest Georgy Lebedinski has been appointed the church’s prior.

September, 2-4 the Youth and Information departments of the Bobruisk Eparchy hold the education seminar “Specific character of the Orthodox mission in the village”.

The forum takes place at the Parish of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chigirinka village, Kirovsk district. The Divine Liturgy at night September, 3-4 will become a central event of the education seminar.

Three gilded bells were presented to the Svyatotroitsky Church in the village of Staroseliye, Shklov District.

Before this the bells arrived to the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Church in Shklov to be sanctified there. The bells were produced in Minsk with sponsorship of Sergey Harlantiyev from Snt Petersburg.

For Sergey Harlantiyev Shklov district is a native place. That’s why he regularly finances presents for local churches. He sponsored cast of the bell Blagovest of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Church.

Soon church goers will enjoy melody and beauty of three new gilded bells.

On July, 29 – August, 5 Osipovichi hosts «Kladez» Orthodox Culture Festival on blessing of Seraphim, Bishop Bobruisk and Bykhov.

Citizens and guests of Osipovichi are welcome to attend diverse spiritual and educational programme: concerts of classical, folk and spiritual music by “Muzikalny gorod” vocal ensemble from Minsk, seminars, free documentary and feature films. Meetings and discussions on different life and religious topics with clergymen and representatives of monasteries and nunneries will be held at medical, social establishments, enterprises and organisations of the town.

The Day of Holy Mother’s Icon celebrated one more event in Klichev religious life. Svyato-Blagoveschensky Temple that was built anew was sanctified. An old building of the temple burnt on fire in 2005. November 2009 started constructing a new building.

The temple was sanctified by the Bishop of Bobruisk and Bykhov Serafim. Sergei Kostyan, a chief of the National Public Association “Belarusian Slavonic Committee” was a honorary guest of the ceremony. He presented two icons to the temple.

The Religious Procession “Under the Protecting Veil of the Holy Mother of God” is crossing the territory of Belarus. The information is provided by the Department for Religion and Nationalities.

The procession has Belarusian Orthodox Church relics: the icon of the Holy Mother of Zhirovitskaya and an icon of Evfrosiniya Polotskaya with hallows. The procession will be over on August, 28 at the Svyato-Uspenskaya Zhirovitskaya Place.

June, 16 Tryoh Svyatitelei Church was cordoned by militiamen. The thing is that after the church service a stranger came up to the priest and saying “It is a present for you” left a big bag. Then he escaped. The situation was rather strange and immediately the militia men were called. Miners and medical workers arrived as well. They searched the bag and found books, icons, crosses, medals. After examination of books experts came to the conclusion that the stranger had read commandments to ease his headache.

On blessing of Bobruisk and Bykhov archbishop Seraphim the department of relationships with medical institutions was established at Bobruisk eparchy. The department is headed by the senior priest of Svyato-Sretenski parish of Bobruisk Ioann Kolyada.

The department co-operates with both medical and educational establishments. Nuns of the parish visit hospitals and boarding schools, take care of the seriously ill and the aged, help to prepare for confession and Eucharist. Children from Sunday school also take part at charity activities.

The Holy Fire is described as a miracle that occurs every year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Orthodox Easter. Carrying out the Holy Fire out of the Church symbolizes Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Furthermore, the Holy Fire is brought to certain Orthodox countries by special flights. This year for the first time an icon-lamp with the Holy Fire was delivered to Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Church at Lapichi village just on the eve of Easter service (at midnight on April 24). During a week all Orthodox believers may light candles from the Holy Fire.