"Small Vatican" in Belarus

"Small Vatican" in Belarus

A small divine corner of the world

Photo credit:
http://www.kozandrej.narod.ru/

Belarus is rich in unique picturesque corners of nature. There are 6 regions in the Republic of Belarus and each of them has got its own charm and a lot of interesting places to visit and enjoy. 

Vitebsk region is not only famous for its beautiful lakes, rivers and woods. There is also a wonderful place there after visiting it once you would like to come and visit it again. In our today's blog we will tell you about a small village called Mosar, a so-called small Belarusian Vatican.   

The Locality of Mosar is concidered to be a magic village, an island of warmth, kindness and culture. 

Perhaps, Mosar would have been an ordinary Belarusian village if not more than one person - the Roman catholic priest Uozas Bulka, thanks to whom the locality of Mosar turned into one of the most famous and astonishing places of Belarus that is visited by many tourists and pilgrims ,especially in summer, every year. 

Mosar is a must to visit

Mosar is situated not far away from the Belarusian town Glubokoe. For the first time the locality of Mosar was mentioned about in some historical chronicles in the year of 1514. For many years it belonged  to various noble families of Belarus. However, the family Bzhestovskie only left a great big mark on the history of the village who were also the owners of it. Ann and Robert Bzhestovskie became initiators of building an amazing palace and a cathedral there. That even took place at the end of the 18th century.Even Polish kings were guests of the palace in Mosar. 

Unfortunately, that architectural master-piece did not reach our times as it had been destroyed during some civil war. But the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Anne founded in 1792 has been preserved till nowadays.This is an acting Cathedral where all believers of the country try to bow in front of its main shrine - the relics of Saint Justin which had been donated to Belarus by Benedict XIV and later were brought to Mosar from the locality of Myadel in 1838. According to the story of local people, the relics of the saint  were carried to all the surrounding churches, but when horses reached Mosar they refused to get a move on. Beilivers understood it like a sign as if Saint Justin expressed his will that way.On the main facade of the Cathedral of Saint Anne there are statues of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. On the Cathedral interior perimeter you can see illustrations showing Christ's way with the cross. There is also a replica of Michelangelo's master-piece - a statue of Our Lady mourning  crucified Jesus.

Besides it, what a pleasure to wander around neighborhood of the Cathedral as there is a splendid park near it. However this divine corner has been like this always. During the USSR time the territory around the church looked like a swamp, however it was opened for believers.

The golden time of Mosar started only in the year of 1988, when the Roman Catholic priest Uozas Bulka came there. He began a restoration not only the cathedral but the whole village at the same time. Uozas Bulka also created a very beautiful park, a so-called arboretum that has been called "Belarusian Versailles". There are lots of fascinating things to admire there such as a big variety of flowers including rare lotuses, trees and bushes, artificial ponds with beautiful small bridges and fountains, and religious sculptures.

The territory of the park is divided into two parts dedicated to two feelings which lead a person to God. These two feelings are sadness and happiness. Sadness in Mosar is a symbol of the alley to the local cemetery while happiness is a children's playground with fairy small houses, an artificial lake with two islands which are connected to each other with a bridge called "Bridge of Love", and natural springs.

Mosar springs are very popular among guests of this locality. They are considered to contain lots of various minerals that's why the water from them is healing.

Uozas Bulka was the first one in Belarus who established a memorial dedicated to the late Pope John Paul II that is situated near the main entrance to the Roman Catholic Cathedral. The statue is 180 Sm high installed on stones among which flowers grow in summer.

In 2006 a consecrated ceremony of a statue of Jesus Christ that 5 meters high took place in the Cathedral in Mosar. They put it in the local cemetery. The statue of Savior is bathed in sunshine and the face of our Savior faces the church.

One of the merits of the priest Uozas Bulka was creation of a museum complex. He created an Anti-alcoholic museum that is the only one in Belarus. Also there is an alley there called "Alley of Sobriety". Thanks to him in the whole village the law of prohibition was established. Uozas Bulka fought with alcoholism actively and he managed to make Mosar turn into a zone of sobriety. He literally fought with alcoholics of his locality. In fact, the priest felt sorry for those people, prayed for them and tried to make them lead to the church. He thought that alcoholism is an illness that there was nothing immoral in it. He tried to eradicate alcoholism from people's consciousness with the help of faith in God, beauty of this world. Uozas Bulka succeeded in it. Even nowadays you will not see any alcohol being sold on the shelves of shops in Mosar.

Photo credit: http://news.tut.by/

The Alley of  Sobriety

While wandering around the Alley of Sobriety you can see a lot of sayings of different famous philosophers or wise men from the whole world that are connected with people's addictions. For example, in the photo above there is a saying created by the Scythian philosopher Anacharsis. He said the following: "People usually raise their first glass to health, the second glass is dried for pleasure, while the third one is drunken for insolence, and the last glass is dried because of insanity." 
By the way, this alley was created by former alcoholics from different countries of the former USSR who came to Uozas Bulka for help.

The priest also created the Historical and Ethnographic Museum.

Also near the Cathedral there is a so-called mini zoo, where you can also see a statue of St. Anthony who is the protector of animals.

Swallows also decided to become permanent residents of Mosar

On the territory of the Roman Catholic cathedral of Saint Anne you can see the tallest cross in Belarus that is 23 meters and can be seen  from the distance of 15 km in a fair weather. It was established in 2005 as a symbol of Christ's power over this locality and in souls of believers. It is situated on a high hill as if on the hill of Golgotha.

Photo credit: http://www.inbelarus.info/

Unfortunately, the priest Uozas Bulka is not alive. On the the 9th of  January he died at the age of 85 years old. He has been the priest in Mosar for 22 years. They buried Uozas Bulka on the territory of the Cathedral of St. Anne where he had willed. He wished  only to have a cross crucifix on his grave and words from the Gospel on his tombstone. His words before the death were the following:"Dear my friends, you have helped me while I am alive and I would help you from the sky after my death. Simply come to my grave and tell me why your heart is heavy and I would listen to you and help". In the rain and in the snow Uozas Bulka did not leave his work, he kept order in the parish all the time and always tried to have a talk to everyone who visited the Cathedral of Saint Anne.

The late priest of Mosar - Uozas Bulka  

Photo credit: http://img1.liveinternet.ru/

Uozas Bulka was an astonishing person. For the development of spirituality among people Pope John Paul II assigned the title "canonic" to Uozas Bulka. Also in the year of 2005 the priest became the first ecclesiastic of the Latin Church in Belarus who was given a state award "For Spiritual Revival". In 2006 according to the decree of the president of the Republic of Belarus, Uozas Bulka was awarded the medal of Francisk Skarina (the 1st translator and publisher of the Bible in the Belarusian language). He was awarded with the medal for his long-term activity connected with strengthening people's spiritual and moral values.

On the grave of Uozas Bulka in Mosar you can always find fresh flowers and lightened icon-lamps. Local people still love the late priest and come there constantly to keep his grave clean and remembered. And the most important thing that even after his death the village has remained the zone of sobriety.  

A small divine corner of the world

Photo credit:  http://www.symbolsbook.ru/

Mosar is considered to be a must to visit in Belarus as a trip around  this locality  is truly a divine rest for your soul.