White-red-white flags above Budslau (Photo)

• 2.07.2008, 15:07

A fest of worship of wonderworking icon of Our Lady of Budslau takes place in Budslau on 1-2 July. About 30 thousands believers from Belarus as well as pilgrims from Poland, Lithuania and Russia take part in the fest. About a hundred of Belarusian clergymen have come to Budslau. National Belarusian flags were waving at the fest.

A high mass takes place in Budslau today, Archbishop will participate in it. He reminded at the mass he had visited Vatican not long ago, where the Pope conferred a pallium upon him. It is a very important part of clergy garment, it means special privilege. According to Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz it is a sign the Pope’s attention to the Belarusian people.

A group of the youth raised Belarusian national white-red-white flags during the mass. Later the flags disappeared. Militia officers (there are lots of them in Budslau) made the youth hide the flags.

“Yes, we hoisted Belarusian national white-red-white flags. Militiamen came up to them and required to furl the flags,” youth leader Paval Sevyarynets told to the Charter’97 press center.

The fest has lasted since yesterday. At first pilgrims were met in Budslau. At midnight a solemn mass was celebrated and a procession with candles round the relic took place.

The fest programme includes solemn masses, Vespers in honour of Jesus Christ and God’s Mother, psalms, Acathistos, Elevation of the Host, Communion service, procession and litany of God’s Mother. Believers of Greek Catholic Church also take part in the fest.

People will celebrate the tenth anniversary since Cardinal Kazimierz Świątek lays Pope's Crowns on the Icon of Lord's Mother of Budslau, what means recognition of the icon as a miracle-working one.

Photo by Radio Svaboda