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Budslav Fest draws pilgrims from across Belarus

BUDSLAV, 5 July (BelTA) - At least 2,680 pilgrims have arrived in Budslav for the festivities. These are people who came to the national sanctuary to venerate the Icon of Our Lady of Budslav (Budslau in Belarusian), mostly on foot, having covered dozens of kilometers, BelTA has learned.

“In the 35th year since the restoration of the church in Belarus, giving glory to God, entrusting themselves to Mary, remaining faithful to the church, and having covered 2,717 kilometers, 2,680 pilgrims have arrived in Budslav,” the priest said after the service for the pilgrims on 3 July.

Remarkably, the youngest pilgrim is just 26 days old. He was carried by his parents, who walked as part of a five‑day pilgrimage from Minsk (379 people in total, covering 123 kilometers).

Pilgrims aged 0 to 78 (205 people in total) covered a distance of 60 kilometers over three days, walking from Glubokoye to Budslav.

Many came to the national sanctuary as entire families. In one of the groups, for example, there were 114 families raising 150 children. In total, that group numbered 325 people, covering 15 kilometers in a single day along the Puzyri-Budslav route.

For the 33rd time, a group of 340 pilgrims arrived from Molodechno, having walked 125 kilometers over five days. For the 31st time, 115 believers came from Baranovichi, covering 293 kilometers over nine days.

Over a 100 people walked from Polotsk, covering 133 kilometers over five days. This pilgrimage took place for the 28th time.

The most “courageous” pilgrimage consisted of just two people, a father and son, who covered 185 kilometers over three days, walking from Stolbtsy to Budslav.

For the first time, a pilgrimage on monowheels of 15 people traveled the Dolginovo–Budslav route in one day.

This year, the Budslav Fest was held from 2 to 4 July drawing pilgrims from across Belarus.