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Day of Apostles Peter and Paul is celebrated on July 12 Today the Apostle’s fast starts. It prepares Christians for the Day of the Apostles Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on July 12. The Apostle’s fast t is not as strict as the Great Fast. Dry food is consumed only on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on Mondays people eat hot food without butter. Fish, mushrooms and cereals are eaten in the remaining days. It is necessary to refrain from eating meat, dairy products and eggs. Among the people the...

Thousands of pilgrims arrive in Polotsk on St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk remembrance day Today is the St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk remembrance day. She was the first woman to have been made a saint in Ancient Rus. Euphrosyne of Polotsk became famous in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the patroness of women's monasticism. However, she is celebrated by Christians of all denominations alike. Noteworthy, the saint is celebrated not on the day of her birth, but on the day she passed away. Euphrosyne died exactly...

On this day, Orthodox church honors equal to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius Today, all Slavonic countries celebrate the Day of Slavonic written language and culture and glorify equal to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius. The Greek monks were the founders of the Slavonic alphabet and Glagolitic and Cyrillic scripts. In fact, they invented a literary language understandable to all Slavs. They also translated the main Christian books into Slavonic: the Gospel, the book of the Epistles and the Psalter...

... visited the house church in honor of the Council of all Belarusian saints and also talked with the honorary Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus Philaret. During the conversation, the spiritual fathers emphasized the unity of the Greeks and Belarusians in Orthodoxy.

On the eve of the holiday, Belarus President visited the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in Vitebsk Region Christians celebrate Easter Week. The Orthodox celebrate Bright Week, the Catholics – Octave of Easter. Special solemn services will be held in temples. On the eve of the holiday, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko took part in one of the services in the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord in the town of Baran. The President and the Archbishop of Vitebsk and Orsha Dimitri...

Belarus President Alexander Lukasehnko congratulated Metropolitan Filaret on his birthday Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has sent a letter of birthday greetings to Metropolitan Filaret, Patriarchal Exarch Emeritus of All Belarus. He was awarded the title of Hero of Belarus and Order of Francysk Skarina. “For many years you have been committed to the promotion of high moral ideals, true humanism and integrity in the society,” the head of state remarked. “You have been doing your best to...

he Resurrection will be observed this year by all Christians on 16 April Today marks the beginning of the Orthodox Great Lent. This is a time of abstinence, fasting and special behaviour. Fasting is a time of repentance, prayers and good deeds. 1 March will see the start of the Catholic Great Lent. The Resurrection will be observed this year by all Christians on 16 April.

Cafes and restaurants in Belarus offer visitors varied pancakes menu during Maslenitsa week Belarusians celebrate the Maslenitsa week. Housewives indulge their families, cafes and restaurants also tend to surprise: during the Pancake week they offer visitors a varied pancakes menu to suit all tastes of demanding customers. Open-air fests and dances, culinary master classes, concerts and fairs will be held this weekend in Logoisk, Ozertso, Dudutki and the Bialowieza Forest. In Minsk, the Effigy...

Among Theophany’s customs are water blessing and bathing in ice holes Orthodox believers are celebrating one of the 12 major religious holidays – Theophany, or the Baptism of Christ. All Orthodox churches serve the solemn liturgy and bless waters. To do this, priests cast a cross into a special Theophany ice hole. People believe that at this time the water gets health-giving properties and maintains them throughout the year. The water is used to hallow churches and homes, it is given to the seriously...

Orthodox believers prepare ice holes for ablution in Epiphany water Today, the Orthodox Christians celebrate the Epiphany Eve. The day forestalls one of the greatest Christian holidays – the Epiphany. Long ceremonial services are held in all temples of Belarus. Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Pavel performed a divine service at the Holy Spirit cathedral in Minsk. By the night, the Orthodox believers will prepare ice holes in water reservoirs for one of the most popular rituals. Plunging in Epiphany...