It was a narrow and rough rural road, with potholes and deep puddles of water left by recent rain. Somewhere behind heavy bushes a lake splashed, and I was searching for the way to go round it and get to the highway. The car was tossed around, and I looked forward this part of my way to finish as soon as possible. For a couple of kilometers, only the road ahead and branches above could be seen and nothing like a settlement around.
And suddenly, in the opening between trees a dome emerged. After a couple of road curves I approached a hill with an untended church on its top. The building, however, was surrounded with scaffolding. I stopped and decided to get out of the car to look at the temple.
I went up a hill and saw that the door of the church was open. I found instruments, building material and improvised hastily made wooden table by the building. It seemed that people had to be nearby. Indeed, a little farther, a car was parked and there were two people – a man and a woman in work clothes – near it.
I came up and asked the people what that place was. They told me that formerly there was the Parečča village there. Nowadays, only old forsaken gardens remind of it. They knew little about the church but there was, according to them, a legend in the vicinity that it was built more than 400 years ago. Having heard it, I smiled to myself, since it was rather in the late 19th century that they built such pseudo-Byzantine Orthodox churches in our lands. However, fairy-tales and rumors are sometimes more persistent than documents and scientific proofs. But the next fact really impressed me: those people were hired out by a local lady who widowed and after that decided to invest everything she had in giving a new life to the old abandoned church. It is so touching, I thought then. But I was even more touched with what I saw inside.
Services were apparently seldom held there. Probably, the church didn’t even have a priest serving their permanently. And it took me some time to realize what its interior resembled. And then it hit me: it was a common rural house, well-maintained and loved by its sincere and a little bit naïve owners. The ceiling, wooden and painted in light blue (they obviously thought of the color of clear sky painting it), simple and nice stenciled patterns on the walls, the crucifixion in a cozy white curtain lace setting, with coverlets and carpets at the foot – that in no way could one leave a dirty boot print…
In the same way old Belarusian rural ladies decorate their unpretentious wooden homes with everything they consider beautiful – motley curtains, laces, plastic and paper flowers, handmade embroidery, knitted carpets and home-woven textiles. They cover cheap icons with embroidered towels and love everything to be clean and orderly. As soon as spring comes, they paint window frames, doors and fences with inspiring and gaily blue – the color of heaven and mystery. They meet you with a smile and scrutinize your face trying to guess whether the guest is satisfied or not: “A guest in the house means God in the house,” they say in Belarus. Actually, their relations with their God are just the same. They invite Him to their homes, talk to Him as to a neighbor and no doubt, He hears them.
And this temple cared by common unindifferent people looks like a part of that world – full of simple coziness and devoid of formality and pathos. Centuries ago, painting icons, old Belarusian artists departed from strict canons and traditions and painted Jesus Christ, Virgin Saint Mary and the saints as if they lived in the neighboring street. And here, common people fit up the home for their God – and, it seems to me, He came and took up His abode there.
Sincerely yours,
Volha Blazhevich.
P.S. Some time ago, I saw a recent photo of this church. Now, it is painted white and sky-blue.
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!
I recently learned my surname is not Polish, but Belarusian. I heard you on shortwave in the past and am so happy to listen online in English. We hear nothing about Belarus here in the US so I am so glad to learn about your country. Keep on broadcasting in English. I also joined the Hoererklub on Facebook as I can understand German. If you have information or a station pennant, I will very much appreciate it.
Sheryl Paszkiewicz, 1015 Green St, Manitowoc WI 54220 USA
Answer:
Dear Sheryl, thank you very much for listening to us! We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. By the way, if you're interested, you can participate in our "The Old Country's Loving Call" project and send a greeting to Belarus. You can find more detailed information at http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/hukaje_eng
Also, in case you like sports, here's the link to an international competition of ours "My Greetings to 2nd European Games" http://www.radiobelarus.by/en/content/games_eng
73 from the entire staff of RBI! Прывiтанне з Малой Радiзмы :)
Hello from Birmingham United Kingdom!
My name is Michael.
I really enjoyed listening to your program on the Hotbird satellite 13e. I very much love listening to your news and current affairs.
Ask you to send me a small gifts. I hope you guys are all good.
Lots of love from UK
Especially enjoying learning about Belarus. History and culture
Michael Rogers
Flat 2 463 City road Birmingham
B17 8LG
United Kingdom
Answer:
Michael,
thank you very much for listening to us! We're glad that you enjoy our programs. We'll send you some of our souvenirs as soon as we can. Best regards and stay tuned!
Hello. I am a new listener to your English service. I listen on the Radio 1 News app. I enjoyed listening to the news. Do you have any information on shortwave broadcasts you can send me?
Thank you,
Joe Cosimo
23 Ivy Ln, Dupont, PA 18641 U.S.A.
Answer:
Dear Joe, thank you for listening to Radio Belarus International! We're glad that you enjoyed our news. RBI broadcasts on shortwave only in German on 6005 and 3985 kHz. News and programs in English are available via our website and satellites. We'll also send you a postcard and a small souvenir as soon as we can. 73!
Hello,
My name is Younes Lazazi, I am from Algeria.
I am very happy that radio Belarus has started broadcasting in Arabic.
I would like to receive stickers and printed matter of the station and the Arabic and french services if possible.
My address:
Monsieur Younes Lazazi 14 rue Maza Boualem El-Harrach 16009 Alger Algérie
Thank you.
Answer:
Dear Younes Lazazi,
we're happy that you like our boradcasts. We'll send you some of our printed materials via mail in the nearest future. 73!
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, sticker, view card, Promotional items of Radio Belarus for our club members and students.
We are waiting for your reply.
With best wishes,
SHIVENDU PAUL
President
Metali Listeners' Club
India
Answer:
Dear Shivendu Paul,
thank you very much for listening to us! Your club is among our most dedicated listeners. We will send you some of our promotional products as soon as possible. 73!
Hello!
Did the arabic programmes start? I don't see them on your Internetcast schedule page. Thanks!
Answer:
Hello! The Arabic programmes have been on air since October, every Monday. You can see the schedule and listen to them on our Arabic page http://radiobelarus.by/ar
FM transmitters and frequencies:
Rakitnitsa - 106.2 MHz
Hrodna - 95.7 MHz
Svislach - 104.4 MHz
Heraniony - 99.9 MHz
Braslau - 106.6 MHz
Miadzel - 102.0 MHz
Satellite broadcasting:
see satellite parameters here
