On the day when the clock is put back one hour Belarusian Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of Saint New Martyrs of Belarus. Is it really a memory? Will we remember their names, not mentioning details of their biographies? Their stories are very much alike as well as grey paper-cases with inscription Case No…; and these stories are hiding behind the numbers they were given instead of names. These are the names that we do not remember.

We remember Soviet times when a kilogram of sausage cost one rouble, morality was high, there was no all this depravity on TV, a victory in Great Patriotic War under the command of comrade Stalin was celebrated. By the way, recently Stalin’s monument was set at the defence line named after him. We remember the names of October Revolution’s chiefs whose monuments are met with in all cities and towns of Belarus. Once again we put Young Pioneer’s red ties on our children. And what can tell us the names of Vladimirs, Johns, Alexanders, and Michaels being, perhaps, the most widespread names in Belarus?

They were tortured neither because of faith nor the name of Christ. These simple words, even the name of Christ frightened atheistic authorities. They were accused of collaboration and counter-revolution. According to St. Apostle Paul, they were those of whom the world was not worthy, and they had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword. Husbands and wives did not understand them; their children renounced them; even brothers and sisters in Christ often kissed them like Judas, and razed people from the memory. Our memory is mutilated by these old, dirty papers we have been tearing out of our personal case No…

On the day when the clock is put back Belarusian Orthodox Church is mourning for forgetfulness about saint martyrs. This day, the day of saint martyrs and witnesses of Belarusian land, is the longest day in a year.