The celebration of the 106th anniversary of the BPR (Belarusian People’s Republic) in Bialystok began on March 23 and will last until the evening of March 25.
A prayer service for the Belarusian people was held at the Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian in Bialystok. Rector Marek Wawrzeniuk called on believers to unite in difficult historical times, and also prayed for political prisoners and all Belarusians scattered around the world: “To pray to the Lord God for the fate of the Belarusian people, so that almighty God helps in life all people who require this help every day. So that there would be peace, peace and a pole. I urge everyone to pray for the holy Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, which we celebrate in our Church. Amen.”
The faithful prayed for political prisoners serving prison sentences, as well as for Belarusians scattered around the world. Bialystok residents came to pray for the Belarusian people, as well as Belarusians who came to Bialystok recently.
During the rally-concert organized in honor of the 106th anniversary of the BPR in Bialystok, the participants of the event mentioned how the holiday was celebrated earlier. Musician Ihar Palynski shared his emotions from the Day of Freedom in exile: “And since it has been impossible to celebrate it on a large scale in Belarus for a long time, except for those two years, I just knew that for me it was such a very warm, bright thing, in which there is a lot of hope. And that’s why I’m in the democratic movement to some extent., it probably came from there, the realization that someday Freedom Day will really be Freedom Day – real will, freedom that must be fought for, unfortunately, which must be obtained. Which is what we all try to do as much as possible.”
The participants of the rally-concert were representatives of the Diaspora and minorities. Belarusian musical groups performed for the guests, and the historical Invictus reconstruction club was introduced to the tradition of the holiday. Songs performed by Kaciaryna Vadanosava and Ihar Palynski sounded from the stage, the historical Invictus reconstruction club recalled the tradition of the holiday.
A symbolic race is scheduled for March 25, and in the evening a solemn concert on the occasion of the 106th anniversary of the BPR will take place on the stage of the Podlaskie Opera and Philharmony.
