Thousands of Minsk citizens participated in the commemoration of the soldiers who died for their home land. The ceremony was broadcast on large photodiode screens set on both sides of the Memorial Church.
Sarcophagus with the remains of soldiers who died during the War of 1812, World Wars I and II were delivered to the Church by armored carriers. Then the military honour guard set them on special pedestals. The ceremony was accompanied by music played by the brass band of the Ministry of Defence.
Philaret, Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus pronounced the solemn words, read the prayer of absolution and sprinkled holy water on the remains.
Then to the toll of the Church bells the soldiers of the honor guard brought the sarcophagus into the crypt of the Memorial Church where the burial ceremony took place. Proclamation of Eternal Memory was accompanied by six salvoes. A wreath on behalf of the President of Belarus was laid to memorial wall. In the center of the crypt the Head of State and Metropolitan Philaret lit an ever-burning lamp from the fire that had been brought from Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Simultaneously thousands of candles were lit on the central staircase.
After the National Anthem of the Republic of Belarus was played the Head of State made a formal speech.
"The soldiers whose remains have found eternal peace were not born heroes. However they became heroes when, without any hesitation, they went to defend their country and the people", said Alexander Lukashenko. "Let the Memorial Church, where the remains of the heroes of three wars have been buried, become the embodiment of our memory and sorrow for all the innocent victims. I think it will turn into a national memorial which will be attended by people willing to comprehend their existence, to pray for their relations and native land, to find peace and serenity of mind."
Then The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky was played by the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus. In the final part of the Overture the battery of artillery gunfire produced 12 salvoes and 10 volleys of fire. The ceremony completed by a symphony concert.
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