We, Belarusians, are peaceful people

Peace and creation is the commandment of our ancestors, which we must faithfully fulfil today

Perhaps one of the most favourite pastimes of Belarusian intellectuals for almost a century now has been to argue about the national idea. Does it exist? And what is it? It is known that such an idea should be expressed in a motto that is close and understandable to all the people. Then the words ‘peace’ and ‘creation’ would definitely become part of it. At least, this is evidenced by our history.

Path of the creator

If we choose a historical image for the proclaimed Year of Peace and Creation, then Euphrosyne of Polotsk will be the most suitable.

Young Euphrosyne knew the history of her family well and was well aware of the political reality surrounding her. And that differed little from the old troubled times. And the whole life of the ascetic became, as it were, a visible alternative to the endless intrigues, squabbles, conspiracies, princely campaigns that filled the history of Ancient Rus’.

Euphrosyne chose the path of a creator. In fact, she made a cultural revolution (in the true sense of the word) on the Polotsk land. Thanks to her efforts, temples and monasteries were erected. The Cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk became a legend. And rewriting books was one of her monastic vows.

Euphrosyne used all her social and political influence (and it was considerable) to appease the numerous conflicts of the turbulent time of feudal fragmentation.

It is recorded in her biography that the saint did not want to see enemies ‘neither among princes, nor boyars, nor servants, but for everyone to be as one soul’. Researchers suggest that it was Euphrosyne who helped prevent quarrels within the Rurik dynasty in the middle of the 12th century, at least in Western Rus’, from escalating into a bloody civil war.
There is reason to believe that the last work of the life of Euphrosyne of Polotsk — a pilgrimage to the Holy Land — also had not only an ecclesiastical, but also a diplomatic character. Her path ran through the Russian principalities, Byzantium, the states of the crusaders. Christians then were at enmity with each other. And the reverend tried to find a kind word, to convey the news, to find a reason for agreement everywhere. The honour with which she was surrounded on her pilgrimage indicates that she achieved a lot.

Ministerial mission

A younger contemporary of Euphrosyne of Polotsk was Cyril, Bishop of Turov. There is no need to emphasise once again its importance for East Slavic culture. Russian Chrysostom — that’s what they call it, and that says it all. Now let us recall one of his many accomplishments, connected precisely with the appeasement of turmoil.
In the literary legacy of Cyril of Turov there is Parable about the Blind One and the Lame One. Its appearance is associated with an acute ecclesiastical and political crisis that erupted in Ancient Rus’. At that time, the most influential prince was Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, who ruled in Vladimir, Rostov and Suzdal. But he was in no hurry to seize the throne of Kiev, as was customary before, but decided to become autocratic in his own land. As historians say, he separated seniority from place.
At the same time, the prince decided to create his own church, independent of Kiev and even Constantinople. The free-thinking preacher Theodore (Fedorets) served as his assistant. It was in 1164 that Andrei elevated him to the episcopal chair, without asking anyone. And Fedorets began to plant various innovations that strongly resembled heresy.

A huge scandal broke out, which lasted for several years. Angry philippics flew from Kiev and Byzantium. Not only the already fragile political structure of Rus’ was threatened, but also the unity of the entire Orthodox Church. The case was heading for a complete breakdown. And here the pastoral word of the Bishop of Turov sounded. It became decisive.

In an allegorical, but extremely understandable form, the saint urged Andrei to change his mind and abandon his risky intentions. The enormous authority of Cyril (and some researchers believe that Andrei Bogolyubsky was his student) did its job. The prince repented, expelled Fedorets from the episcopal chair and did not begin to split the church. It is significant that then the church glorified both Andrei Bogolyubsky and Cyril of Turov as saints. Spiritual instruction and timely repentance are equally valuable.

Well of wisdom

Ancient Rus’ was replaced by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Middle Ages by the Renaissance. But this is not only the era of great creators, poets and artists. The whole of Europe was shaken by endless wars. Cities were ruthlessly ruined, peasant fields were destroyed. The feudal lords squeezed all the juice out of their subjects and robbed strangers during aggressive campaigns.

And in the midst of the general war of all against all, The Song about the Bison, written in 1522 by our fellow countryman Nikolai Gusovsky, sounded with the voice of reason. It was a hymn to the native culture, but also a call to peace.

There are lines that are still relevant today.
Stop killing! Excited conscience and mind
Imperiously tell me to raise the alarm, take up arms
Against robbery. How long has the whole Christian world
Merciless Mars bathes in blood, shaking
Our faith! It, the Christian faith,
Has became shaky both at home and on the battlefield.
Are the enemy’s sabres or our own swords cutting it?
Another figure of the Renaissance — Francysk Skaryna — was not only the first printer, but also a great humanist. His prefaces and commentaries on biblical texts are a storehouse of folk wisdom, thoughts that have been born through his own life.
The great educator left us his order, “The eternal law that must be always observed: do to others everything that you yourself love to receive from others, and do not do to others what you yourself don’t want to have from others... This law is in the heart of a single person.” The words are simple, drawn from the Gospel story, but so close to every person. If the current Year of Peace and Creation needed an epigraph, then you couldn’t find a better one…
There are many such vivid historical examples.

After all, it is only pro-Western national-radicals who are trying to drag into our pantheon all sorts of gentry on horses in feathers, thugs like Bulak-Bulakhovich and police goons. They do not know our people and our history.

Aleksandr Lukashenko has always captured people’s aspirations. This is his political strength and guarantee of victory. As well as in a deep understanding of the essence of the historical path of the Belarusian people. 

And it is in the first lines of our anthem, “We, Belarusians, are peaceful people.” Hence all peacekeeping initiatives.

It is a pity that our proposals often went unheeded by the great powers. Now the Year of Peace and Creation is both a reflection of the mood of Belarusians and a continuation of the outline of our history.

By Vadim Gigin, Candidate of Historical Sciences