Big crowds, emotion, fervent prayer, and even some tears that is how Belarus welcomed the Mother of God. On July 13 the Czestochowa icon in her pilgrimage stopped in the historic spiritual cradle, which is the region and city of Polotsk visiting the main churches of the Orthodox Diocese of Polock-Hlubokaje.
They were the following locations: Polotsk– Vierchniedzvinsk – Miory – Sarkovscyna and Hlubokaje.Hundreds of people came. Everywhere the icon was greeted with bread and salt which is an old custom and with the sound of church bells, and with tears of joy in the eyes.
In Polotsk and Vierchniedzvinsk alongside of prayers in churches a conference for journalists, educators, health professionals and social workers was held. Main problems of protection of life, family and traditional family values, and demographics were discussed.
Everyone wanted to personally greet the Mother of God. Stand in front of her face to face, to touch, to fall to ones knees and kiss. Huge queues lined up. People waited their turn on knees and after giving honor to Our Lady slowly passed on their knees under the icon held by the priests. Seeing this great faith of people of Belarus it is hard to imagine that just twenty years ago, most Orthodox and Catholic churches were destroyed turned into warehouses, sometimes to museums, and going to church and public profession of faith was not only forbidden, but was associated with severe repressions. Despite this, most Belarusians kept their faith and passed it to their children. The visit of Czestochowa Icon is for them a sign of God's grace and answer to their many years of prayer for the freedom to profess their faith. Hence the great emotion and often tears.
How could we forget the prophetic words of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski – primate of Poland, who repeatedly said and publicly prayed with a strongly believe that Our Lady of Czestochowa will go through the whole world, and especially through the East so affected by atheist persecution, and that people will be free to profess faith in Christ. Now it is fulfilled. And people are facing a new challenge: what kind of freedom will they choose for themselves and their children. The pilgrimage of Our Lady of Czestochowa in defense of the civilization of life and love is a distinguishing marker of modern times. In Belarus, it also takes place under the slogan "East and West together in defense of the civilization of life."