Power of prayer, labour, and humility

The Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi is rightly referred to as Belarus’ jewel of Orthodoxy 

At the beginning of the previous week, the President of Belarus met with representatives of religious denominations. The Head of State noted that a roundtable meeting fosters openness and trust. Indeed, much was said about the atmosphere of mutual respect and consent in which Belarusians live, regardless of their faith. The word ‘peace’ was frequently mentioned, highlighting the importance of preserving it today. Additionally, Aleksandr Lukashenko proposed creating [religious] centres of attraction for believers, no matter what denomination they belong to. What places, significant for each religious individual, have already become such centres?

Zhirovichi is not just centre of Orthodoxy but also centre of spiritual education            Ilya Nester

This holy site is ideally suited as one of the centres for attracting Orthodox believers: it is always bustling with many pilgrims, yet it remains remarkably quiet and reverent. On May 20th, the monks, along with all of Belarus, will celebrate two anniversaries — the 555th anniversary of the miraculous appearance of the Zhirovichi icon of the Mother of God and the 505th anniversary of the monastery itself. 

In 2021, the President visited the stavropegic male monastery. Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed that both the agrotown and the temples be brought to an ideal state. “I promise you that we will allocate funds entirely according to the needs,” the Head of State said at that time. The reconstruction of the monastery was approached, as instructed, in a businesslike manner. Archbishop Guriy of Novogrudok and Slonim, the abbot of the Zhirovichi Monastery, shared, “We began a thorough renovation with elements of restoration from the main church — the Assumption Cathedral. We replaced the rafter and roofing systems, worked on the walls, vaults, and internal façades. We practically installed a new iconostasis. A special commission has been established within the Belarusian Orthodox Church to regulate the reconstruction of our monastery. Perhaps, the specialists will provide further recommendations, but I am pleased to say that the work is nearing completion.”
Simultaneously, the renovation of the Church of the Appearance is underway, with plans to complete it by Easter. This temple was built on the site where the miraculous Zhirovichi icon was found for the second time (it had disappeared after a fire in 1520). In front of it stands a linden tree having a two-hundred-year history. Some residents poetically refer to the tree as a symbol of the monastery. Indeed, it has witnessed countless storms and tempests, yet it continues to thrive. Moreover, the linden serves as an example for all of us: one can either break under trials, or send roots even deeper and bear good fruit. 
The renovated St. George’s Church will open a bit later — there is still much work to be done there. On the monastery grounds, there is also the 18th-century Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is unique, symbolising pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Christ’s path to Golgotha. A long staircase of 28 steps occupies almost the entire space: once, people ascended it on their knees, in prayer, taking over an hour to climb. Behind the church lies a cemetery where the abbots, spiritual leaders, elders, and Metropolitan Filaret are buried. His grave is adorned with flowers even in winter — white roses, as he loved in life. “During the Soviet era, there was only one functioning church on the monastery grounds, where pilgrims from all over the USSR, Europe, Japan, and the USA would come,” recalled Archbishop Guriy. “The church remained open, despite the goal of making Belarus the first atheistic republic of the Soviet Union.

Thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Filaret, the Minsk Spiritual Seminary was revived on the monastery’s premises in 1989, and in 1996, the Minsk Spiritual Academy was opened for the first time. This is not just a centre of Orthodoxy; it is a centre of spiritual education. People from all over the world come here to pray and venerate the Mother of God. She helps all who come with earnest requests.” 

The abbot of the Zhirovichi Monastery is convinced that today, more than ever, it is important to preserve Christian values and uphold spirituality, “The world is rife with various passions and vices. People are becoming increasingly embittered and filled with hatred towards one another. Yet Christ commanded us to live in peace and love. ‘Love one another’ — this is the fundamental commandment. The Bible, which is God’s letter to humanity, states: ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’. This is what Christians strive to follow. Moreover, the commandments are necessary not for God, but primarily for us. The Lord revealed spiritual laws, following which we can live happily both on earth and in eternity.” 

FACTS

The Zhirovichi Monastery has five active churches: the Assumption Cathedral, the Church of the Appearance, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Church of St. George, and the Church of St. Nicholas. The Zhirovichi icon of the Mother of God is the monastery’s main shrine and is kept in the Assumption Cathedral. The face image, measuring just a few centimetres, is depicted on jasper. This icon is the smallest of all miraculous icons and ranks among the hundred most renowned and venerated in the world. Additionally, Zhirovichi is home to some of the most famous holy springs in Belarus.

TO THE POINT 

The history of the Zhirovichi Gospel is also remarkable, especially considering that it has survived to this day in almost its original form. No documents remain to testify to the time of its writing, so experts examined the paper — it bears watermarks. This is how they revealed that the Gospel dates back to the 1550s. Today, the monastery houses the first facsimile edition of the Gospel, created as a single copy.

By Khristina Skuratovich

Commandments of unity and peace

Catholic priest Franz Rud — on the sacred shrine for all Catholics

The National Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Budslav is a temple located in the agrotown of Budslav, in Myadel District of Minsk Region. It serves as the central pilgrimage site for all who belong to the Catholic faith, being the main spiritual sanctuary.

Catholic church in Budslav has been known for over 400 years           Aleksandr Kushner


The Catholic church has been known for over 400 years, as noted by Catholic priest Franz Rud, the abbot of the Minsk parish of the Mother of God of Budslav. However, a new, modern chapter in its history began in 1992, when 45 groups of believers from various cities and countries came here on pilgrimage. They arrived by car and on foot. “Budslav, as the legend goes, was chosen by Virgin Mary herself,” added the priest. “She first appeared in 1588. There was no church then, just 300 hectares of land allocated to the Bernardine monks back in 1504. Surrounding it was an impenetrable thicket. Getting here was not without risk to life, as wolves howled constantly. The Bernardines lived in huts they called ‘budas’ — according to one version, this is where the name of the settlement originated. They prayed in a wooden chapel they built with their own hands.” 
One of the Bernardines got lost in the forest. In search of a way, he called upon Virgin Mary and saw an unusual light, and then — Virgin Mary herself in rays of light. The monk followed the light and soon returned to the Bernardine settlement. Other monks also witnessed the presence of Virgin Mary and considered it a sign: people should gather here to glorify Virgin Mary. From that moment, they began to build a stone church. Shortly thereafter, there appeared an icon, which would later be declared miraculous. The small-sized relic was gifted to Jan Pac, voivode of Minsk, by Pope Clement VIII. The voivode always took the icon on his trips, and after his death, he bequeathed it to his spiritual advisor, a monk — who then passed it on to the Budslav church.
The icon is painted in the style of Odigitria, meaning a guide pointing the way. It is believed to have the power to heal both spiritual and physical ailments. It is no coincidence that both clergy and laypeople have been drawn to this shrine for centuries to seek the intercession of the Mother of God of Budslav.
The long history and miraculous icon are far from the only reasons that allow the Budslav church to be regarded as a spiritual centre for all Catholics in Belarus. Franz Rud offers another argument, 

“Every summer, a large-scale celebration takes place — the Budslav Fest. It gathers thousands, even tens of thousands, of participants not only from Belarus but from many other countries as well. In 2018, the festival was included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Cross Procession takes place, led by the icon of the Mother of God of Budslav. Upon reaching the church, believers engage in a communal prayer.”

It should be noted that Budslav has become a spiritual centre uniting people of different confessions and nationalities. Franz Rud confirms that Catholics maintain good relations with representatives of all faiths, particularly with Orthodox Christians, “We hold joint events: round tables on current issues, discussions, and shared pilgrimages. Mixed families, where one spouse is Catholic and the other is Orthodox, are a common occurrence in our country. Moreover, in my experience of conducting religious wedding ceremonies, there was a case where a Catholic woman married a Muslim man — and there were no disagreements between them. Each person has the right to remain true to their own tradition. If one of the spouses has not yet firmly established their faith, they may choose the religion of their partner. We do not have the concept of ‘changing faith’. After all, faith, the aspiration towards God, and the desire to live according to His laws are the same for everyone, while religions serve as a means for people to attain the Divine.” 
Franz Rud is convinced that our country is a splendid example of how the principle of unity among all faiths is implemented,  

“All religions on our land co-exist without any conflicts, fights, or disputes. People are free to determine for themselves which confessional tradition to follow; no one attempts to forcibly convert anyone to their faith. Everyone attends different places of worship, and the state creates equally favourable conditions for the activities of representatives of all denominations.   

People come to God in response to the call of their hearts. The voice of the soul unites everyone just as the desire to do good deeds, participate in charity, and spread love around them. Christ prayed for our unity, and we must certainly follow His commandments.” 


  By Yelena Kozlovskaya

Sermons on goodness and value

The Cathedral Mosque in Minsk is one of the centres of theology and a focal point of attraction for Muslims

Cathedral Mosque in Minsk was opened in November 2016        Yegor Yermalitskiy 

For Abu-Bekir Shabanovich, the Mufti of the Muslim Religious Association in Belarus, Belarusians are not divided into the faithful believers and people of different faiths. In the revival of spirituality and culture among Muslims, the interests of the entire nation and state have always been a priority. Thus, while restoring Islamic traditions and teaching those who wish to pray, the Mufti and his like-minded colleagues have always ensured that intolerance and division among people based on religious principles do not infiltrate society.

Currently, there are 23 Muslim religious communities in Belarus, with six functioning mosques and two prayer houses. One of the crucial places in the life of every Muslim is the reconstructed Cathedral Mosque in Minsk. It was opened in November 2016 with the participation of the presidents of Belarus and Türkiye. The mosque is a replica of the one built in the early 20th century, which was destroyed in 1962, but it is five times larger. 
In addition to the prayer hall with a balcony, the building houses the Mufti’s reception room, the imams’ office, a conference hall, a Museum of Islam that tells the history of the religion on the Belarusian land, and a classroom where children are taught to read the Koran. Today, the Cathedral Mosque is not only a centre of theology and a gathering place for believers but also a venue for meetings, scientific conferences, and interfaith dialogues. “Every Friday, no fewer than two thousand believers pray at the Cathedral Mosque,” said Abu-Bekir Shabanovich. “Half an hour before the prayer, at 1pm, lectures and sermons are delivered here on various topics — on significant political events for the country, on the proper conduct of Muslims. During today’s sermon, I will share with the congregation about my meeting with President Aleksandr Lukashenko.” 
The Mufti of the Muslim Religious Association in Belarus emphasised that the Head of State raised an important issue regarding cultural and educational centres, “It is thanks to such centres that mutual understanding and harmony in society are formed and strengthened. According to sociological surveys, between 51 to 56 percent of the population identify as believers. The remaining individuals can be united specifically through cultural and educational centres, where they can meet friends and celebrate family occasions. Whether a person becomes a worshiper or not is a personal choice. One cannot impose or force belief, but one can provide the opportunity to connect with faith or simply offer a respite.”   
At the same time, Abu-Bekir Shabanovich is not quick to label the Cathedral Mosque as the sole major attraction, “Our religion has a considerable difference from Christianity. For Muslims, there is one place of worship — the sacred Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is believed that a truly devout person should, if possible, make the Hajj — pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. This applies to Muslims worldwide. However, in the places where we live, there can be respected and revered sites. In Belarus, there are several such sites. There is Ivye, which has a mosque that operated even during the war and in the atheistic Soviet era, along with three Tatar cemeteries, or mizar. There is Novogrudok, where a mosque has been restored. The ancient mosque and the functioning mizar in Lovchitsy, Novogrudok District, can serve as places of reverence and unity for Muslims. A unique site is Dovbuchki in Smorgon District, near Krevo Castle. The remnants of a small wooden mosque that once stood there have been transported for restoration to Strochitsy — an open-air museum of folk architecture and culture. Simultaneously, a replica could be restored at its original site, in the cemetery at Dovbuchki. In short, the choice of the most revered and respected site among Muslims will remain with the people.” 
Such conditions are required by the centre of attraction for Muslims at the level of traditions. However, the Mufti already has insights concerning modernity. These were planned to be implemented in a contemporary cultural and educational youth centre in Ivye. Since the local Tatars are known as gardeners, courses on new methodologies in agronomy, such as growing tomatoes and flowers, could be organised. Courses on driving and masterclasses in sewing would also be of interest. A small stadium is necessary where boys could play football. Of course, people of any faith, not just Muslims, would be able to spend their time productively in such an international centre. The Mufti is confident,  

“Mutual respect, peace, and consent are the main values for all Belarusians, regardless of their faith. Every day we pray to the Almighty for the preservation of peace and harmony. We have lived together in peace for eighty years, and we will continue to preserve our Motherland, our beloved Belarus. May the Almighty accept our efforts in this!” 

BY THE WAY

By the end of the year, the first translation of the Koran — the holy book of Muslims, written in Arabic — will be published in Belarusian.

By Oksana Nevmerzhitskaya