two opposing conceptions of Belarusian national identity have coexisted side by side and victory in the Second World War (WWII) as the nation’s founding moment this has been the preferred identity narrative of the Lukashenka regime The alternative conception focuses on the country’s pre-Soviet history first as a part of the Duchy of Lithuania and then of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth This narrative glorifies heroes who fought for Belarus’s independence from the Russian Empire and views Moscow and the Soviet Union as occupiers This conception has been the preferred narrative of the majority of the Belarusian opposition This photo exhibit on Belarusian architecture and monuments exemplifies these conflicting narratives A pioneer could be recognised by a red necktie Monuments to pioneers once stood in front of many Belarusian schools The pioneer movement was managed by the Communist party until 1991 It has been revived in some Belarusian schools A masked boy poses for a photo in front of a WWII monument to the Red Army in Smarhon which celebrates the day when the Red Army freed Minsk from German occupation Newlyweds lay flowers in front of a WWII monument A monument to the victims of WWII in Smarhon region Such monuments can be found all over Belarus who died fighting “class enemies.” Residents of the village say that the Cheka lieutenant was murdered for promoting collective farms Children are building a snowman next to a monument to Vladimir Lenin in Braslau where Lenin statues were dismantled en masse in the 1990s Belarus has retained most of the Soviet Era Monuments Statues of Lenin and even of Feliks Dzerzhinsky Monument celebrating the 1863-64 rebellion against the Russian empire erected on private land in Astravets region Stalag 342 WWII memorial complex in Maladzechzna A prayer is held at the location of the former concentration camp A woman reads the names of prisoners who died at Stalag 342 concentration camp in Maladzeczna the Grand Duchess of Lithuania and queen of Poland (1422 –1434) in her birthplace Monument to the Ogiński family in the village of Zalesse Michał Kleofas Ogiński (1765 –1833) was the Grand Treasurer of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and participated in the Kosciuszko Uprising against the Russian and Prussian empires in 1794 He is best known as a composer of the polonaise Farewell to the Homeland written in 1794 when Ogiński went into exile following the defeat of the Kosciuszko Uprising against the Russian Empire The grave of Francišak Bahuševič in Astravets region celebrated as a founding father of Belarusian literature Bahuševič fought in the 1863 uprising against the Russian empire This stone commemorating “The Martyrs for the Freedom and Independence of Belarus” in Maladzechzna The monument was initially installed in the central square across from the monument to Vladimir Lenin A monument celebrating 500 years since the founding of Budslau home to the National Sanctuary of the Mother of God of Budslau About the photographer: Siarhei Leskiec is a freelance photographer whose work focuses on everyday life he received a history degree from Belarusian State Pedagogical University One in four Belarusians lives in the countryside, where life expectancy is around four years lower than in cities. Belarusian photographer Siarhiej Leskiec has documented village life for years. This collection was published by BelarusDigest One in four Belarusians lives in the countryside, where life expectancy is around four years lower than in cities. Belarusian photographer Siarhiej Leskiec has documented village life for years. This collection was published by BelarusDigest Photograph: Siarhiej Leskiec/ BelarusDigest (ANS - Zhuprany) - Belarus is a country that has suffered greatly during the second half of the 20th century and for various reasons children's rights have struggled to find a decisive place in the country Today in Belarus there are a dozen Salesians among young people adults and the elderly in the home in Zhuprany On the occasion of the feast of Saint Casimir No one minds having to travel for up to two hours on a snow-covered road because they know that with fraternal sharing and meeting the Salesian charism is strengthened They speak enthusiastically about the new projects the construction of the new church and the headquarters of Minsk They show the plans of the new church in Baraulany and discuss how to rebuild the Salesian oratory in Zhuprany or the new activities for young people in Smarhon but they are tracing the path of a promising future for the Salesian Congregation in Belarus When Don Bosco sent the first Salesians out of Valdocco "The oratory is in you." And Fr Rua's immediate reply was The first Salesians in Belarus are sowing the Congregation and to some extent they feel in their hearts the enormous responsibility and honor of being bearers of the Salesian charism in this beautiful country there is no lack of enthusiastic young people: in the youth centers of Minsk there are many young people willing to collaborate with this handful of men full of God who travel on icy roads to create fraternity who end the day chatting with young people talking about their problems and their dreams and that every day in the small community chapels they ask God for the light and the strength to carry on Salesian works for the greater glory of God and the salvation of the young In a short time the Salesians can already count on several aspirants who have started the community experience in Minsk The Salesian Congregation shall have a beautiful future if it succeeds in transmitting to young people the idea that "giving oneself completely to everyone" can fill an entire life and make it whole ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007 This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements 2013Get email notification for articles from David B was the birthdate of the Yiddish-language poet Abraham Sutzkever who survived the Holocaust and came to pre-state Israel where he lived and wrote poetry until his death three years ago He has been called the greatest poet of the Holocaust (ANS – Budslau) – The 23rd Salesian Youth Evangelization Pilgrimage (SMEP for short) from Smarhon - Budslau took place from 30 June 30 to 6 July 6 The organizer of the pilgrimage was the Salesians of Don Bosco in Belarus Young people from Salesian and other parishes all over Belarus took part in SMEP On the way to Budslau the pilgrims were accompanied by Salesian priests: the Provincial Delegate of the Salesian Society in Belarus - Fr Pavel Shcharbitsky SDB responsible for the pilgrimage - Fr Aleh Karaliou SDB Fr Mikhail Radevich SDB who was a spiritual retreatant this year During six days the youth covered 105 kilometres carrying their requests thanks and intercessions to the Mother of God of Budslau Walking along the road the pilgrims evangelized by their own example talking and simply smiling the population of the towns and villages through which they passed every cemetery and monument to the victims of the Great Patriotic War to offer their prayers to the Almighty God and ask for blessings for the country and the people On the pilgrimage the participants also experienced some reflections Fr Mikhail offered to reflect on the topic “Simply about what is important” Each of the six days of the pilgrimage had its own theme: “I am valuable in God’s eyes” “Looking at people positively” “Trust in the God’s Word” “It is important to be sincere in front of God” and “Mary as an example of life” During each conference Fr Mikhail shared with the pilgrims his own experience and opinion on the given topics helped them better understand some meanings and suggested how it is possible to carry out certain religious and spiritual practice in everyday life These topics were also revealed during group work where pilgrims with the help of animators could discuss and share their thoughts on the topic of the day respect for the older generation and one’s neighbor a responsible attitude to environmental protection An important moment of evangelization in SMEP are fun evenings where residents of the towns where the pilgrimage stops were always invited During a fun evening young people shared the wealth of their talents and also testify to their living faith and joy from a life based on a Christian foundation Fr Artur Liashneusky SDB together with a team of Salesian Cooperators from Smarhon helped to organize many fun evenings During the six days of the pilgrimage the youth received a great spiritual experience that will support everyone for a long time SMEP ended in Budslau where pilgrims from all parts of our country met to honor the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Budslau Belarus - October 2016 - The Vicar of the Rector Major Fr Francesco Cereda visited the Delegation of Belarus from 21 to 29 October He met the Council of the Delegation and had talks with all the confreres and the pre-novices and also the parishes of Baruny and Zhuprany which are linked to the community of Smarhon.  On the feast of Don Rua he attended the assembly of all the members of the Delegation with Mass and moments of sharing on vocational Belarus - July 2022 - The Salesian Youth Evangelization Pilgrimage (SMEP) was held from June 26 to July 2 Salesian youth carried out the walking pilgrimage to Budslau Regional Delegate of the Salesians in Belarus The pilgrimage began in Smarhon with the first Mass celebrated by Fr The Salesian pilgrimage is aimed primarily at young people and has the specific character of evangelization pilgrims make efforts to interact with the people and invite people to conferences and evangelization evenings they witness their faith and the joy of encountering the Lord who for 6 days led the reflections on the Strenna 2022 of the Rector Major SMEP entered Budslau with loud and joyful songs and pilgrims lay down forming a cross on the square in front of the shrine