BREST, 22 June (BelTA) – Thousands of people took part in the requiem rally dedicated to the Day of National Remembrance of Victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Genocide of Belarusian People in the Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex, BelTA has learned.
An address from Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko was read out by Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Natalya Petkevich, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Veniamin, Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Piotr Parkhomchik, Aide to the President, Inspector for Brest Oblast Aleksandr Lomsky as well as by representatives of ministries and government agencies, foreign delegations, including participants of the second international forum of the Union State of Belarus and Russia “Great heritage – common future”.
A poignant chord of the requiem rally was the vocal and choreographic composition “Sacred war” performed by Belarusian and Russian ensembles. The atmosphere on stage took the audience back to the events of 85 years ago: the shock and fear people experienced, the pain of loss, and the unyielding courage.
The Soviet people suffered colossal losses in the Great Patriotic War. Every third resident of Belarus died. Soldiers of border guard stations were the first to face the onslaught of the fascists on 22 June 1941. To honor the courage of their predecessors, the current generation of warriors in green peaked caps followed an established tradition by lighting a torch from the Eternal Flame in the Brest Fortress and candles on wreaths, which were lowered into the waters of the Bug River. Military service members laid garlands at the slabs of the memorial while young people placed burning memorial lamps.
In memory of everyone who faced the horrors of the Great Patriotic War, those present laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and the slabs of the necropolis. A minute of silence was observed.
“With gratitude and admiration for the heroic deed of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, with sadness and sorrow, we remember the first day of the war. We remember the subsequent days and months that brought a great tragedy to our land, but at the same time demonstrated the cohesion of the people and led to the Great Victory. Today we speak of a grateful memory,” Metropolitan Veniamin said. He added that it is important for the descendants of the courageous ancestors not only to remember their heroic deed but also to preserve the unity and friendship of nations.
In conclusion of the ceremony military personnel of the Brest garrison, law enforcement officers, and employees of the Emergencies Ministry marched in a solemn procession across Ceremonial Square.
An address from Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko was read out by Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Igor Sergeyenko. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Natalya Petkevich, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Veniamin, Chairman of the Brest Oblast Executive Committee Piotr Parkhomchik, Aide to the President, Inspector for Brest Oblast Aleksandr Lomsky as well as by representatives of ministries and government agencies, foreign delegations, including participants of the second international forum of the Union State of Belarus and Russia “Great heritage – common future”.A poignant chord of the requiem rally was the vocal and choreographic composition “Sacred war” performed by Belarusian and Russian ensembles. The atmosphere on stage took the audience back to the events of 85 years ago: the shock and fear people experienced, the pain of loss, and the unyielding courage.The Soviet people suffered colossal losses in the Great Patriotic War. Every third resident of Belarus died. Soldiers of border guard stations were the first to face the onslaught of the fascists on 22 June 1941. To honor the courage of their predecessors, the current generation of warriors in green peaked caps followed an established tradition by lighting a torch from the Eternal Flame in the Brest Fortress and candles on wreaths, which were lowered into the waters of the Bug River. Military service members laid garlands at the slabs of the memorial while young people placed burning memorial lamps.In memory of everyone who faced the horrors of the Great Patriotic War, those present laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and the slabs of the necropolis. A minute of silence was observed.
“With gratitude and admiration for the heroic deed of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, with sadness and sorrow, we remember the first day of the war. We remember the subsequent days and months that brought a great tragedy to our land, but at the same time demonstrated the cohesion of the people and led to the Great Victory. Today we speak of a grateful memory,” Metropolitan Veniamin said. He added that it is important for the descendants of the courageous ancestors not only to remember their heroic deed but also to preserve the unity and friendship of nations.In conclusion of the ceremony military personnel of the Brest garrison, law enforcement officers, and employees of the Emergencies Ministry marched in a solemn procession across Ceremonial Square.
