Synkavichy: harverst time

Again and again heartwarming memories of that generous August day come to me. Late summer is always ambiguous: it is warm and tender, it puts its fragrant and juicy gifts right in our hands. Its sunshine is still bright. But as the sun goes down, a soft smell of wormwood and a thin shawl of fog remind us of the upcoming autumn.

That day I helped my relatives with their orchard, cooked fresh and ripe vegetables picked right in their kitchen garden and went on a short afternoon journey to the town of Slonim and its surroundings. And certainly, I could not miss the occasion to see once again one of my favorite Belarusian landscapes in the village of Synkavichy.

Actually, this is a popular tourist destination today. The church consecrated in honor of Michael the Archangel is one of few and rare examples of fortified Orthodox temples in Belarus. It looks like a small castle indeed, and its history is fraught with secrets. One of them is about the time of the church’s foundation.

Some historians believe, it was erected in the early 16^th century. Others insist that the church is much older referring to inscriptions in Latin and Old Greek discovered on its walls.

However, the most loved and famous version sounds rather like a legend. It tells that in the late 14^th century, great Lithuanian duke Yahaila started a military campaign against his uncle Keistut and his cousin Vitaut the Great. They were strong rivals, and Yahaila decided to jockey them. As a result, he imprisoned his relatives and killed his uncle. But Vitaut managed to escape having put a woman’s dress on. He found shelter not far from the town of Slonim and thus evaded death. Vitaut never forgot the assistance of the local people due to whom he survived. And, as a sign of his gratitude, he built the church in Synkavichy and attended its consecration in 1407.

Those who are fond of history certainly appreciate the famous temple as a living evidence to heroic and romantic past. At the same time, believers come here even from far away to bow to an icon of God’s Mother painted by monks from Athos holy mountain. They believe, it is magic working and helps to get rid of clinical depression, drug addiction and even oncologic diseases.

The church in Synkavichy stands away from the village. There is a local belief that before, it was situated on an island. Indeed, the building itself, accompanied with a chapel and expressive trees, surrounded with a stone fence, looks like an oasis among the vast expanse of sloping hills and fields.

I came up to the church. Its gilded crosses and the image of Michael the Archangel – the white-winged warrior of light – shone in sunrays. Rough redbrick walls were warmed up by sunrays outside. I came in. People were praying in half-light, it smelled incense and wax, burning candles illuminated carved wooden iconostases, gilded icons and concentrated faces. I looked at it, rose my eyes to the high gothic vaults – and couldn’t even take my camera out of the case… It would be inappropriate to disturb the praying people with sounds of the shutter.

I got out of the temple and looked around. Surprisingly, after the twilight inside the church, the afternoon August sun didn’t seem blinding. Its light was thick and aureate, like fresh honey. It slowly fell from above and flowed down walls, trees, roads, stubble fields recalling the whisper of ripe ears, orchards full of apples... I went around the church and suddenly, my ear caught quiet but unstoppable buzz. What a surprise – bees, these untiring workers, settled in a hollow right inside the one-and-a-half-meter thick wall and carried their sweet harvest there. These little creatures symbolizing unity and labor, Spirit and resurrection chose the church as their home. There, they bring their honey – the symbol of divinity, grace and sacral knowledge.

Indeed, wonderful signs and images come to those searching for joy and consolation on the go. And this is another little share of my harvest of impressions I share with you.

Sincerely yours,

Volha Blazhevich

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Międzynarodowe Radio Białoruś

Радио "Беларусь" / Radio Belarus

інтэрнэт вяшчанне

Зараз у эфіры:

15.40 Беларусь і міжнародная бяспека (Англ.)

Далей:

16.00 Навіны (Англ.)

Расклад Iнтэрнет-вяшчання
Расклад спадарожнікавага вяшчання (рэкамендыцыі па прыёме тут)
Расклад FM-вяшчання

ВОДГУКІ І ПЫТАННІ

Dear
English Service
Radio Belarus,

Greetings to all staff and listeners of English Service of Radio Belarus.
We listen your webcast program. Your program quality is very nice. Your website is colorful & documented.
We liked your programs, News, and Current Affairs Program. We are interested about Culture, life style of Belarusian people, historical places, Tourist attraction and destination of Belarus.
Please send some program schedule (A19), Calendar , sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
21st June was fifth International Yoga Day observed across the world. The theme for Yoga Day 2019 was "Yoga for Climate Action”. On this day, which is dedicated to inner and outer well-being of human body, people across the world practice yoga in groups. The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga, a physical, mental and spiritual practice.
We send you some photos related the program which was held in our area on the occasion of International Yoga Day. Our club members are also practice some Yoga.
We are waiting for your reply.

With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
PRESIDENT
METALI LISTENERS' CLUB
INDIA

Answer:

Dear Shivendu Paul and Metali Listeners' Club,

dthank you for your comment! We'll send you some of our souvenirs ASAP.
Stay tuned and 73,
RBI

Hallo Radio Belarus,

ja der Dieter Leupold ist jetzt auch hier im Gästebuch vertreten... Super, bald sind wir alle zusammen hier im "Belarus Hörerclub", Dieter könnte 1.Vorsitzender werden und Jana und Elena Ehrernmitglieder, Helmut Matt Schriftführer, Alfred Albrecht Beisitzer und ich mache Hausmeister:-) Lutz Winkler wie fit bist Du bereits wieder, für Dich finden wir auch eine nette Aufgabe:-) Beste Grüße und ein schönes Wochenende.

Dietmar

Answer:

Lieber Dietmar,

das stimmt, für alle finden wir im Hörerklub eine Aufgabe!:)
Liebe Grüße und einen guten Start in die Woche!

Здравствуйте. Говоря о красоте природы Беларуси, о менталитете её жителей неотъемлемой чертой которого является гостеприимство хочется назвать Беларусь таким синонимом как Добрарусь.
Сосновский Кирилл.
Адказ:
Дзякуй за водгук!

Hallo Jana und Jelena,
Höre gerade den tollen Song 10:45 min ( Hörerbriefkasten) Was ist das für ein traditionelles Instrument im Soloteil, klingt etwas wie ein Dudelsack, aber der ist ja in Schottland:-)
LG
Dietmar Wolf

Адказ:
Lieber Dietmar,
das ist wirklich ein Dudelsack :) In Belarus wird es aber Dudá genannt. Eigentlich ist Duda ein belarussisches traditionelles Musikinstrument. Übrigens gibt es viele Arten und Formen von Dudelsack in verschiedenen Kulturen und Ländern von Südamerica bis Indien.
PS: das Lied ist Каляда На Балоце von Тутэйшая Шляхта. ;)
Beste Grüße

Dear sir
How are you. I am rasheed from Pakistan. I am listners of radio Belarus. All programe is informative & intersting. I am intersting in history & culture. Thanks. Please send me some datiles about radio.
Muhammad RASHEED KHAN
PAKISTAN

Адказ:
Dear Muhammad Rasheed Khan, thank you very much for listening to RBI! We'll send you a parcel via regular mail as soon as possible.
Stay tuned and 73!
RBI

Добрый день! Прошу уточнить, что за песня играла в субботу 29.09.2018 в период с 14.00 до 16.00 со словами "Маша Маруся...в Беларуси". Буду очень признательна за ответ.
Елена

Адказ:
Добрый день, Елена!
Интересующая вас музыкальная композиция - песня "Маня-Маруся", которую исполняет ансамбль "Сябры" (вокал: Валерий Рязанов)!
Спасибо, что Вы с нами!

Вiтаю радыё Беларусь! Я з`яуляюся сталым слухачом Вашай радыёстанцыi. Вельмi падабаюцца перадачы на замежных мовах, якiя даюць магчымасць не толькi даведацца, што адбываецца ў Беларусi i за яе межамi, але ж i ўдасканалiць веды ангельскай, нямецкай, французскай моваў, праслухаўшы перадачы. Хацелася б даведацца, цi плануе радыёстанцыя вяшчанне на FM у Мiнску, бо ў заходнiх рэгiёнах Беларусi радыёстанцыя на FM працуе. У шматнацыянальным Мiнску жыве шмат замежных грамадзян, таксама прыязджаюць турысты, якiя б маглi даведацца пра тое, што аббываецца ў краiне i за яе межамi праз радыё Беларусь. На сёння ў Мiнску няма нiводнай англамоўнай цi iншамоўнай радыёстанцыi. З павагай, ваш слухач Сяргей.
Адказ:
Сяргей, дзякуй за паведамленне! Сапраўды, у Мінску нашы перадачы ў ФМ-дыяпазоне не чуваць. Аднак вы можаце паслухаць абсалютна ўсе нашы перадачы непасрэдна на сайце радыё «Беларусь». Уверсе на старонцы ёсць два радкі: он-лайн вяшчанне і ФМ-вяшчанне. Так што далучайцеся да нас у Інтэрнэце!