About a thousand pilgrims are expected in Rositsa, Verkhnedvinsk district, for the celebrations in honor of local martyr priests

Around a thousand pilgrims and guests will visit the small town of Rositsa in the Verkhnedvinsk district on August 7-8 for the celebrations at the Holy Trinity Church in honor of the blessed martyrs Antoni Leshchevich and Yury Kashira, as reported by the church rector, Father Cheslav Kurechko.

During the Great Patriotic War, two priests met a martyr's death along with their parishioners. The days of remembrance for the blessed, who have been canonized by the Catholic Church for their feat in the name of faith, are held twice a year (in February and August) and gather pilgrims from Belarus, near and far abroad in Rositsa. For example, the memorial service at the Holy Trinity Church for the celebrations in February this year gathered over 300 guests from the Verkhnedvinsk district, Minsk, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Glubokoye, Miory, Borisov, and Zhodino. The visit of the Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus, Archbishop Claudio Gutterotti, added special significance to it.

In summer, according to Father Cheslav, there are always more pilgrims. Many, for instance, from Polotsk and Borisov, travel on foot. Two cycling groups from Zhodino and Minsk are expected, as well as dozens of buses from all over the Vitebsk region and other regions of the country. Students from the theological seminary in Poland will also arrive. An additional bus service from Verkhnedvinsk to Rositsa and back will be organized.

Spiritual events will begin on August 7 at 6:00 PM with a joyful service for pilgrims and will continue with a prayer program. After the night liturgy, a procession of believers with torches will proceed to the place of the martyrs' death, where a tall cross is erected, and a commemoration of the priests and villagers burned during the war will take place with prayers and parting words from the head of the Vitebsk Diocese, Oleg Butkevich. On August 8, the prayer program will continue, and the second major celebration service will begin at 12:00 PM.

Ekaterina Knyazeva, BELTA.