The Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Minsk-Maghileu, the bishop Anton Dziemianka, officiated Mass on 26th August for the repose of the victims’ souls. On Sunday 28th October, some Protestant Churches celebrated the Day of Repentance for the Crimes of Communism. The initiative was also endorsed by many Catholics from both rites (Latin and Byzantine) as well as some Orthodox groups. In the same spirit of repentance for the crimes of communism and prayer for the victims, some Greek-Catholic priests celebrated a service of commemoration on Monday 29th October in Minsk in the wood of Kurapaty, where according to some estimates 50 thousand to 300 thousand people were buried in the years 1937-1938. And it is just the wood of Kurapaty that yesterday was the destination of a procession of approximately one thousand people, who left from the centre of the Belarusan capital. The event, authorised by the authorities, was led by Maia Klachtornaia, the daughter of Todar Klachtorny, the poet who was executed after spending 18 years in the Soviet prisoner-of-war camps by former Gulag prisoners and leaders of the opposition parties. The commemoration and the prayer will continue over the next few days, especially on 2nd November that in Belarus is called Dziady, i.e. a traditional day of commemoration of one’s ancestors. The Orthodox devotees also celebrate the "Saturday of Saint Demetrius" a day of prayer for the dead.
