Icon of Minsk blessed Lukashenko

During a visit to a temple in the village of Okolitsa in the Minsk region, President Alexander Lukashenko presented a copy of the icon of the Mother of God 'Minsk'. The original icon, discovered in 1500 on the waters of the Svisloch River, has been kept in Minsk ever since and is considered the country's most sacred relic. Lukashenko noted that it helps find the right path and protect against visible and invisible enemies. 'The world is very complex and confusing, but our holy icon can help us find the right path,' he said.

The donated gift was delivered to the Holy Spirit Cathedral, where the original remains to this day.

Context

The icon was first discovered in 1500 and mentioned in chronicles, after being protected from religious persecution and during the Great Patriotic War. In 1945, it was transferred to the Holy Spirit Cathedral.