| Sanctuary of the Congregational Mother of God (Virgin Mary for students) in Hrodna |
 The Hrodna Cathedral bears the title of Minor Basilica, in which the wonder-working Icon of the Congregational Mother of God (Virgin Mary for students) is kept. Main feast is observed on August 5th.d Contacts
jFrom the history of the icon Materials taken from the article by Aliaksandr Yarashevich Miracles of the Icon of the Congregational Mother of God// Nasha Vera. 2005 № 3(33). h The Icon of the Congregational Mother of God as a piece of art
Some 40 icons of the Virgin Mary of the Snow remained in Belarus, painted mainly with oil on canvas in the XVII-XVIII centuries. One of them is the Icon of the Congregational Mother of God, brought in the middle of the XVII cent. from Rome by the provincial of Lithuanian Dominican monks and presented to Chancellor Albrecht Stanislaw Radziwil. Since 1664 the icon has been kept in the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (former Jesuit church) in Hrodna. In 1686 a commission sent by bishop of Vilnia acknowledged the icon to be miraculous. The icon, one of the few in Belarus, was painted with oil paints on a 22х17 cm copper plate. The governor of the Vilnia province, Kazimir Jan Sahega, donated the icon a golden icon shield, which soon was stolen. At present the icon shield and the crown are silver. The silver frame in rococo style was created in 1761 by Christian von Hausen, an expert in jewelry from Gdansk. On a sheet of steel put near a pillar close to the altar episodes from the history of the icon are shown. The feast of the icon is celebrated on August 5th, simultaneously with the Roman Virgin Mary of the Snow Icon. Since 1950 the Hrodna Cathedral became the place for the Icon of the Virgin Mary of the Snow, where it brought following the closure of St. Bridget Church. At first it was stored above the tabernacle of the main altar, and in 1927 it was transferred to the chapel in the Kohanava farmstead, which belonged to the Nazarethan Sisters, who, by bishop’s permission, had been living in the Bridgettine nunnery since 1905. The icon was painted in the middle or in the second half of the XVII cent. under vivid influence of baroque altar painting, that can be especially noticed in Jesus’ figure, which is bent and not leans back, as in the original. Mary’s figure and face are not frontal, but are expressively turned to the Infant. The icon was ornated with an icon shield and crowns in the first half of the XVIII century. Materials used from the book by Aliaksandr Yarashevich The Virgin Mary of the Snow in Belarus. Minsk. 2003 kCoronation of the Congregational Mother of God  A big festivity, timed to the coronation of the Icon of the Congregational Mother of God with the papal crowns and the 300th anniversary of consecration of the Cathedral Basilica, took place in Hrodna on August 28th.Thousands of believers followed the Icon of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in a procession in the streets of the ancient city, glorifying Her greatness with songs, asking for protection and help. The main Holy Mass was held near the former St. Bernard church by His Eminence Cardinal Świątek. Together with the Belarusian hierarch, the divine service was concelebrated by Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz from Wrocław, Apostolic Nuncio in Belarus Archbishop Martin Vidović, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz — Metropolitan from Moscow, Archbishop Vojciech Zemba — Metropolitan of Bialystok, bishop of Drahichyn Antoni Dydych, bishop of Sandomierz Andrzej Dzenga, bishop Tadeusz Pikus from Warsaw, bishop Tadeusz Zawitowski from Łomża, bishops of the Minsk-Mahilyow Metropolitanate — ordinary of the diocese of Vitebsk bishop Wladyslaw Blin, suffragan bishops Antoni Diamjanka and bp. Kazimir Velikaselets, as well as the secretary of the nunciate Pr. prelate Henryk Yagodzinski, Archimandrite Siarhej Hajek — Apostolic Visitator for Greek-Catholics in Belarus, general and provincial priors of monastic communities as well as priests from Poland, Lithuania and different dioceses of Belarus. Present at the celebrations were also representatives of the Orthodox Church, representatives of diplomatic corps, chairman of the Committee on Religious and Nationality Affairs S.I. Buko, as well as representatives of regional and city authorities. Pr. prelate Michal Sapata, Vicar General of the diocese of Hrodna, announced the document from the Apostolic Capital concerning the conditions of receiving full remission of sins on the day of the coronation and during the year.  During the Holy Mass, the miraculous Icon of the Congregational Mother of God was crowned with the papal crowns.With tears on their faces, worshipers were listening to the emotion speech of Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, with whose bishop’s consecration began revival of the Roman-Catholic Church in Belarus, as well as rebirth of the cult of the Congregational Mother of God (...): “My priestly and bishopric service in Belarus, and especially in Hrodna, was indivisibly connected with this church and this icon. I can remember very well: when I was a middle-school pupil, my father used to take me to the main church to see the Icon of the Congregational Mother of God and say: “If you want to study well — pray to the Virgin Mary, who is also called the Virgin Mary for students”. Then hard times came. The church didn’t have a constant priest for 30 years. Divine Providence made so that it was me who in 1988 began the renaissance of the parish and the cult of the Congregational Mother of Godn. From the very first moment my eyes were struck by the great depth with which the believers prayed in front of the miracle-working icon and how the image was intimate for them. Little efforts were needed to organize novenas on Saturdays, which in 1989, on the 325th anniversary of transfer of the icon in Hrodna, obtained special importance. I myself am very grateful to the Congregational Mother of God. During that memorable novena, the Holy Father John Paul II appointed me Bishop for Belarusian Catholics. After a 60-years’ break, hierarchy of the Roman-Catholic Church in Belarus was revived. (...) The main Roman-Catholic Church in Hrodna, which was consecrated 300 years ago, has rich and sometimes tragic history. It also played an important role in the modern history of the Catholic Church in Belarus — both in the revival of religious life, and in Church structures. (...) Today, in acknowledgement of Holy Mary’s help, believers from Hrodna and the diocese of Hrodna in front of numerous guests and representatives of power pay homage to the Congregational Mother of God. In times when there was no priest in the church, when there was nobody to give the Eucharist offering, believers did that themselves. They protected the church from closure, they held divine services, prayed, and looked after the shrine, which is a masterpiece of sacral art. During all this time the Blessed Mary was present below the cross, helping believers, who, from their side, stayed by Her. She, in the copy of the well-known icon Salus populi Romani — the Saviour of Roman people — from the Virgin Mary Basilica in the Eternal City, became for the faithful people of Hrodna Salus populi Grodnensis — the Saviour of Hrodna people. When we obtained freedom of worship, the “catacomb cult” of the Congregational Mother of God revived and blossomed. Today’s festivity — coronation of the miraculous icon with the papal crowns — is another evidence of the rebirth of the cult. Coronation of an icon is a big gift for local Church, but it is also a task. New times — times of religious freedom and the beginning of the third millennium should become the time of kindness, time of spiritual rebirth, time of salvation. Peering at the Holy Mary we must say “Fiat” while facing new challenges of our time, which become more and more dangerous. Following Mary’s example, only obedience to the Lord’s will can cardinally change the situation. (...) Filled with gratefulness to Our Heavenly Father for the 300th anniversary of consecration of the cathedral, for revival of faith and for the coronation of the Congregational Mother of God, we shall never forget the path to the church. There, Sts. Peter, John and James – followers of Our Lord, are present. There, Jesus is waiting for us in his Sacraments, especially in the Sacrament of the Eucharist; He is waiting with His Gospel, and today’s Gospel teaches us: “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it”. (Luke 11:28). There, in the Sacraments, Jesus Himself blesses us. There, the Virgin Mary is awaiting us, to ask a new gift from Her Son — the gift of spiritual rebirth. She is awaiting us so that with Her help we could, as John Paul II urged, open the doors of our hearts to Christ, who, according to Benedict XVI, should not be feared, for He doesn’t take away anything but only gives. Oh, Christ, the only Savior of the world, the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8), through the intercession of the Congregational Mother of God give us mercy to stay in good. Grant us mercy to live according to the doctrine of the Gospel and the Church, so that we could make all things new (Revelation 21:5) for the glory of Lord and salvation of people. Amen”. Materials taken from the article by Aliaksandr Yarashevich Historic solemnity// Nasha vera. 2005 № 3(33). |
St. Francis Xavier Cathedral (former Jesuit Church) in Hrodna belongs to the finest monuments of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Today, the Cathedral Basilica today remains one of the most precious pieces of baroque style on these lands.
Between 1960 until 1988 the parish had no priest. During these 28 years believers gathered in the church every Sunday. They put a chalice and a missal on the alter, ornated the interior, lighted candles and started services without a priest. They would read the Holy Scripture, sing psalms and go out in a procession. In 1987 local authorities allowed to hold divine services only 5 times a year. In 1988 Pr. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, the incumbent Metropolitan of Minsk-Mahilyow, became parish priest of the church.
The icon was brought from Rome by the provincial of the Dominican monks and presented to the chancellor of the Great Duchy of Lithuania, Albrecht Stanislaw Radziwil (1595-1656). Following chancellor’s death, the icon went to a Dominican priest Fr. Kuklinski, later — to Voiciech Zhaliarouski, and the latter, in 1664, being seriously ill, presented it to the congregation of students at the Jesuit collegium.