In Braslav, celebrations were held in honor of Our Lady, Queen of the Lakes
Bishop Oleg Butkevich was born and raised in Braslav, and his faith grew in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the Braslav region, several dozen young men embarked on the path of serving God and people, and now they are carrying out pastoral duties all over the world. Father Alexander Ragin is in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, Father Alexander Amelchenya heads the Belarusian editorial office of the portal Vatican News and Vatican Radio. But wherever priests serve, they cherish the traditional values of the people and support families.
Family… The crisis it is currently experiencing worries society and the Church. It is no coincidence that this year is dedicated to the family as a source of joy and hope for youth. The celebrations in Braslav were held under the motto "Mary – Mother and Queen of a Happy Marriage."
A bird remains a bird as long as it flies, a flower – a flower as long as it blooms, and a person – a person as long as they love God, the land where they live, their parents, wife, and children… If this love disappears, there is a threat that our land will be populated by people of a different culture. It is not by chance that the head of the Belarusian Catholic episcopate, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, focused on this topic and proposed seeking solutions to many problems with the help of Mary.
– Who knows better than her the difficulties of everyday life, domestic duties, and the problems of growing children? She protects every conceived life, every born person, both healthy and sick, and those who are alone. Mary is the Mother and Queen of a happy marriage, so let us ask for her protection for all Belarusian families.
Thousands of believers came to Mary, and each asked for her protection on their life's journey for themselves, their families, loved ones, and acquaintances. The vast majority were young people, boys and girls, families who seek the core of their lives in God and faith. Bishop Oleg Butkevich of Vitebsk met the very first pilgrims on the church steps. By the way, he was among the people throughout the festive days, listened, supported with pastoral words, and celebrated masses. And at the main mass, he repeatedly addressed those present with words of gratitude and wishes, among which the commandment to love one another and cherish their union was one of the most important.
This was also discussed by the esteemed guests of the celebration: the Superior General of the Salvatorians, Father Zonta Milton from Brazil, whose confreres have been serving in Braslav for many years, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Republic of Belarus Artur Michalski, the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev, the Chairman of the Braslav District Executive Committee Alexander Badanin, other hierarchs, and secular figures.
From all that was heard, the attendees concluded that the path to goodness and love, with the support of Mary, must begin with oneself, that strong families must strengthen the foundation of the state, and that the future of our country lies with the youth.
The church taught its faithful this throughout the year – at youth and family gatherings, which have become traditional in Braslav region, during pilgrimages to holy sites, and in classes at the church singing school. The choir, led by the chief organist of the Minsk Cathedral, a lecturer at the Belarusian State Academy of Music, Maestro Uladzimir Neudakh, as well as the organist and choir director of the Braslav sanctuary, Ina Sapun, graced more than one mass during these festive days.
On the occasion of the diocese's anniversary, Bishop Oleg Butkevich awarded a number of faithful who had made the greatest efforts in the revival and development of the church.