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Celebration of the 91st anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Belarusian National Republic took place on March 22 in front of the UN Headquarters in New York. Belarusan Youth Movement of America gathered together ethnic Belarusians from New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC under the slogan “Magutny Bozha” (“Mighty God”). The organizers delivered Ivonka Survilla’s (Chairwoman of Rada of the Belarusian National Republic) greetings to Belarusian people on this occasion. During the same time, a holiday service was held at the Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church's St. Cyril of Turau Cathedral in Brooklyn.
Grand opening of the exhibition “Art Against Dictatorship” took place at the Belarusian Museum in New York. This exhibition had already been displayed in Estonian Parliament and German Marshall Fund Headquarters in Washington DC. Audience sang Hymns “My vijdzem shchylnymi radami” (“Come, We Shall March in Joint Endeavour”), “Magutny Bozha” (“Mighty God”), and recited Belarusian poems. Rascislau Haroshka, a member of Rada of St.Cyril of Turau Cathedral, delivered a speech about Belarusian history and the events of March 25, 1918. Ales Shaternik, famous Belarusian artist, talked about works of Belarusian painters Ales Marachkin, Mikola Kupava, Ryghor Batalyyonak, Henadz Drazdou, Yury Platonau, Yanka Ramanovich, and Julia Shaternik. For the first time ever, works of a Belarusian artist Alena Tylkina were displayed at the Belarusian Museum in New York. Mikalai Saganovich, one of the members of the Church’s Rada, delivered a speech about the importance of the declaration of independence of the Belarusian National Republic.
Later that day, “Ada’s Gallery”, a documentary by Uladzimir Kolas was shown to the audience. The film is dedicated to the work of Ada Raichonak, a member of Belarusian National Renaissance (Adradzhenne) and the Chairman of Yazep Drazdou Cultural Center in Hermanavichy. Using her own funds, Ada started an Art Gallery in the village of Hermanavichy, Sharkouschynski District, Vitebsk Region where she regularly organizes plain-airs for Belarusian and foreign artists. The film also features famous Belarusian painters and graphic artists including Ryhor Skrypnichenka, Ales Marachkin, Yanka Ramanovich, as well as people of the village of Hemanavichy.
The day of the declaration of independence of the Belarusian National Republic – March 25, 1918 – is the most significant event of the 20th century for Belarusian Nation.
Long Live Belarus!
Natalyya Rabava
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