The Belynich Icon of the Mother of God
12/25 April

The Belynich Icon of the Mother of God was originally in one of the Orthodox churches in Mogilev Province.  After the Unia (signed in 1596), the Icon was transferred to Catholic control, and was installed in the church of the Catholic Belynich Monastery established in 1622-1624 by great hetman Lev Sapega on the banks of the Druga, about 50 kilometers from Mogilev. The Icon was revered by Catholic and Orthodox people alike.  In 1832 the Monastery was dissolved, and the church became a parish church.

With the restoration of the Monastery in 1876, the church was turned over to the Orthodox.  On April 12 of the same year, the first Divine Liturgy was served on an Altar Table dedicated to the Nativity of the Most-holy Theotokos and consecrated by an Orthodox bishop. The Belynich Icon of the Mother of God is venerated throughout the Christian world.