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Memorial celebrating Brest’s long history unveiled in the Belarusian city

A memorial celebrating the long history of Brest was unveiled in the southwestern Belarusian city on July 25 as part of events marking its 990th founding anniversary.

A ten-meter-tall granite memorial features 12 bronze tablets with texts about the most significant events in Brest’s history and bronze figures of three prominent historical persons – Grand Duchy of Lithuania ruler Vytautas, nobleman Mikolaj Krzysztof Radziwill and Prince Vladimir Vasilkovich, as well as bronze sculptures symbolizing Mother, Soldier, Chronicler and Brest’s Guardian Angel.

At the opening ceremony, Kanstantsin Sumar, head of the regional executive committee, said that the memorial "can be described without exaggeration as people’s.” “Local residents not only took an active part in a discussion on its concept but also voluntarily donated money for its installment,” Mr. Sumar said.

Authored by Brest-based sculptor Alyaksey Pawlyuchuk, the monument costs 1.8 billion rubels ($631,600). Of the amount, more than 400 million rubels was donated by local residents and companies.

The design of the memorial, approved in January 2009, sparked protest from local opposition activists who wanted the city authorities to use a design disclosed to the public initially. The initial version featured key persons in the city’s history – St.

Athanasius of Brest and Jogaila, Grand Duke of Lithuania between 1377 and 1392 and King of Poland since 1386, who gave the city the Magdeburg Right of self-administration.

Events marking Brest’s 990th founding anniversary will be held until July 28.

The program includes various re-enactment events, music concerts, sports events, a theater performance, a firework show and the opening of one more memorial. //BelaPAN