In the diocesan Sanctuary of the Mother of God in Trakeli believers honour the wonder-working Icon of the Mother of God of Trakeli. In 1994 bishop Aliaksandr Kashkevich set the first Sunday of July as diocesan feast of the miracle-working Icon of the Mother of God of Trakeli. Apart from that, annual pilgrimages are organized to this village. в
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Title of the diocesan Sanctuary:
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
Remission Day:
May 31; 1st Saturday of July
Holy Mass:
on Sundays and feasts at 10.00, 13.00 on working days at 18.00 (winter), 19.00 (summer)
According to archival data, the first parish church in Trakeli was laid in 1500 by Martin Gasztold, governor of the Vilnia province. However, other sources suggest that Martin Gasztold was the governor of the Troki province and that he died in 1483, while the governor of the Vilnia province in 1522-1539 was his son Albrecht Gasztold. Due to these discrepancies and absence of other exact date, the foundation of the church should be attributed to the first half of the XVI cent.
The first Catholic church stood in the northern part of the village. Later, a wooden Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected. During the invasion of Moscow troops in 1655-1659, the shrine in Trakeli, like many others, was destroyed. Thanks to the efforts of Jesuit Fathers the church was rebuilt and in 1687 was consecrated by the suffragan bishop of Vilnia Wladyslaw Silniski. However, the temple hadn’t stood even a century when during the Swedish invasion it was destroyed in around 1705. By joint efforts of the Jesuit Fathers and parishioners the church was again rebuilt in 1758 and consecrated under the title of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The wooden building of the shrine which we see today was built in 1809 by Stefan Nezabytkowski. Thorough restoration of the church was done in 1866 by the administrator of Trakeli parish Pr. Jozef Sidorski. In the following years the shrine was renovated a couple of times. According to parish chronicles, the church obtained its modern look in 1928. dFrom the history of the Icon of Mother of God of Trakeli
In the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trakeli, which was founded by the governor of the Vilnia province Martin Gastzold in 1500, there is an icon of Roman iconography, which, as legend has it, was painted in the late XVI century. According to one of the legends, the icon, which in 1595 was brought from Vilnia, had been known for its miracles for a long time. It is one of the most highly artistic repetitions of the Icon of the Virgin Mary of the Snow in Belarus. The unknown painter from Vilnia created an incredibly beautiful and noble image of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus. The character of images can be compared with that created in 1640 by a painter of Flemish origin Pens from Vilnia, which now is stored in St. Lipka Basilica in Warmia region. The metal icon shield with crowns corresponds to the perfect late-renaissance painting. In the second half of the XVII century (possibly around 1664) the Icon of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus was supplemented with an image of the kneeled St. Casimir with a rosary in his hands. In 1994 bishop Aliaksandr Kashkevich set the first Sunday of July as diocesan feast of the miracle-working Icon of the Mother of God of Trakeli. Apart from that, annual pilgrimages are organized to this village.
Materials taken from the book by Aliaksandr Yarashevich The Virgin Mary of the Snow in Belarus. Minsk. 2003.
Metropolitan Kondrusiewicz to bless students for a new academic year
On Thursday, September 16 2010, a Holy Mass and a blessing ceremony of students for a new academic year will be held in the Minsk Archcathedral of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The 18.30 Liturgy will be headed by Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Metropolitan of Minsk and Mahilyow.
Copy of the Shroud of Turin will be brought to Vorsha
Between July 4-8, 2010
the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary parish in the town of Vorsha (the Diocese of Vitebsk) invites
everyone to participate in the ceremony of the adoration of a copy of the
Shroud of Turin. On these days between 9.00 and 21.00 the local Catholic church
will host various prayers.
Space bridge "Madrid - Minsk" is planned to be held in 2011
During the solemn
events of the World Youth Day, which will be taking place on August 16-21, 2011 in Madrid (Spain), it
is planned to hold a praying space bridge "Madrid - Minsk" owing to
which Belarusian believers will unite in a common prayer with the Holy Father
and participants of the solemnities as it was in 2008 in Ivianets. The plan
has it that a delegation from Belarus
will also head for Madrid.
In the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trakeli, which was founded by the governor of the Vilnia province Martin Gastzold in 1500, there is an icon of Roman iconography, which, as legend has it, was painted in the late XVI century. According to one of the legends, the icon, which in 1595 was brought from Vilnia, had been known for its miracles for a long time. It is one of the most highly artistic repetitions of the Icon of the Virgin Mary of the Snow in Belarus. The unknown painter from Vilnia created an incredibly beautiful and noble image of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus. The character of images can be compared with that created in 1640 by a painter of Flemish origin Pens from Vilnia, which now is stored in St. Lipka Basilica in Warmia region. The metal icon shield with crowns corresponds to the perfect late-renaissance painting. In the second half of the XVII century (possibly around 1664) the Icon of the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus was supplemented with an image of the kneeled St. Casimir with a rosary in his hands. In 1994 bishop Aliaksandr Kashkevich set the first Sunday of July as diocesan feast of the miracle-working Icon of the Mother of God of Trakeli. Apart from that, annual pilgrimages are organized to this village.