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Wiazynka

Wiazynka (or Vyazynka) is a small village located not far from Minsk. Here, at folwark, in 1882 was born Ivan Lutsevich, better known as Janka Kupala the poet, playwright, publicist, Belarusian literature classics. His family was noble, although both of Kupala’s parents were employed as tenant farmers at the folwark. Kupala was thus essentially born into a landless peasant class. Kupala received a traditional Belarusian education, completing his studies in 1898. Following the death of his father in 1902, Kupala worked a variety of short-term jobs, including as a tutor, a shop assistant, and a record keeper.

Every year, during summer solstice, here celebrate Midsummer (Kupalle on BY).
This is a pagan summer celebration of fertility. Lately it was renamed into a Christian celebration of St John’s Day. That fest usually involves youth going into a forests and the meadows, wearing flowers and grass garlands, dancing in roundelay around fires, jumping through fires.
A popular kind of Midsummer Night is fortune-telling – putting wreaths on water. People believed that on Midsummer Night the fern has a very special flower the fern flower (paparats-kvetka on BY) is glowing in the dark. The fern flower give a ability to see the future and find all the world’s hidden treasures. If you find the flower, you’ll be happy. But no one has found this yet. Search of the fern flower is one of the most mysterious rituals of Midsummer Night.

In 1972, the Government of Belarus has decided to establish the literary-memorial reserve writer.
Today the farm looks the same as in the XIX century and literary museum located there. Near the house the trees grow planted by the Kupala’s wife together with Belarusian writers and fans of the writer.
The reserve area is about 21 hectares. Nearby is the railway. Also near water channel connecting the Svisloch river and Vilija river. This is Vileika-Minsk water system, water system of Minsk. Where the water from the river Vilija (it’s Neman basin) being transferred to Svisloch river (Dnieper basin). This is a unique engineering object of the Soviet period. Around the beautiful places, there is ecological trails for cyclists and backpackers.

A pictures and panorams photo of Wiazynka photo gallery added August, 15, 2015.

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Human on the Earth or early spring in forest

Nature sometimes creates a very bizarre forms. Often single stump or dried driftwood look like remarkably picturesque, reminding us of the fabulous Goblin or other mysterious creatures like Chupakabra.
These photos are taken the early spring in the forest near town. Forest areas pixel garbage, this indicates the human activity. Garbage as excrements of civilization dissolves in the stomach of nature is slowly-slowly.
Pictures has been taken 21 of March, 2010; 1 of March, 2014; 27 of Fabruary, 2016.

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The ethnographic village of Dudutki

The Dudutki Ethnological Museum complex includes several buildings – this craft courtyard with a creamery, Pottery workshop, a mini-exhibition of folk life and forge.

Over the craft courtyard is Animal Farm, where in addition to the usual cows, geese and chickens live wild boar and deer.

There is a wooden church in honor of John Prophet built near the entrance to the estate in 2008.

Everyone can get in Dudutki as excursion or independently. The village is located 40 kilometers from Minsk. You need to go to Slutsk highway pointer to the Museum of Dudutki.

Pictures have been taken on 10 of May, 2008.

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Monastery Banneux Notre-Dame, Belgium

Our Lady of Banneux: The Virgin of the Poor

The story of Our Lady of Banneux is one of faith, hope, and divine intervention. This Marian apparition, also known as the Virgin of the Poor, took place in the small village of Banneux, Belgium, in 1933. It is a testament to the enduring power of Mary’s maternal care and her message of compassion for the suffering and marginalized.

The Apparitions

Between January 15 and March 2, 1933, the Virgin Mary appeared eight times to an 11-year-old girl named Mariette Beco. Mariette, the eldest daughter of a poor and non-religious family, was playing outside her home on the evening of January 15 when she saw a luminous figure in the garden. The figure, a beautiful lady surrounded by light, smiled at Mariette and beckoned her to follow.

During the subsequent apparitions, the Virgin Mary identified herself as the “Virgin of the Poor” and delivered messages of hope, urging people to pray and trust in God’s providence. She also spoke of her desire to alleviate the suffering of the poor and the sick, saying, “Believe in me, and I will believe in you.”

One of the most significant moments occurred during the third apparition when Mary led Mariette to a small spring, saying, “This spring is reserved for all nations… to relieve the sick.” The spring, which had previously been dry, began to flow with water and has since become a site of pilgrimage and healing for countless believers.

The Messages of Our Lady of Banneux

The Virgin of the Poor emphasized several key themes during her apparitions:

Prayer and Faith: Mary encouraged Mariette and all believers to pray fervently and trust in God’s love and mercy.
Compassion for the Poor: She highlighted the importance of caring for the less fortunate, reflecting the Gospel’s call to serve the marginalized.
Healing and Hope: The spring at Banneux symbolizes spiritual and physical healing, offering hope to those who are suffering.
Universal Love: Mary’s message was not limited to a single group or nation but extended to “all nations,” emphasizing the universality of God’s love.

The Impact of Banneux

The apparitions at Banneux were officially recognized by the Catholic Church in 1949, and the site has since become a major pilgrimage destination. Thousands of visitors, including the sick and the poor, travel to Banneux each year to pray at the shrine, drink from the spring, and seek Mary’s intercession.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Banneux includes a chapel, a basilica, and the spring, all set in a peaceful, wooded area that invites reflection and prayer. The site serves as a reminder of Mary’s maternal care and her call to live a life of faith, charity, and hope.

The Legacy of the Virgin of the Poor

The message of Our Lady of Banneux remains as relevant today as it was in 1933. In a world often marked by inequality, suffering, and division, the Virgin of the Poor calls us to open our hearts to God and to one another. She reminds us that true wealth lies not in material possessions but in love, compassion, and faith.

For those who visit Banneux or reflect on its message, the Virgin of the Poor offers a beacon of hope and a challenge to live out the Gospel in our daily lives. As Mariette Beco once said, “She came for everyone, especially the poor and the suffering.”

Things to do in Monastery near Banneux – pictures of Banneux Belgien photo gallery added 13 of April, 2013.

Nature___, Photo Gallery_all the ways___

Aglona Basilica

Basilica in Aglona Latvia was built in the late baroque style, it is decorated with two 60 meters high towers. Pilgrims come to Aglona every year on August 15 to celebrate the day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven. It is one of the most well-known sacred sites in the world. The Dominican order founded a monastery and built the first wooden church in Aglona in the 17th century. When in 1699 the wooden church burned down, the stone building of a monastery and the present temple was built on its place in 1768 – 1780. The interior finish of the church was created in the 18th – 19th century, but the pulpit and the organ – at the close of the 18th century.
(www.aglona.travel)

Five hundred meters from the Basilica is a former Catholic school, now is the usual school.

Aglona Basilica photos and panoramas are shooted: 24 of August, 2014.