Island of Tears

The Island of Tears is a memorable place of Minsk, covered with sad romance. This beautiful place is also called the “Island of Courage and Grief”.

The islet on the Svisloch River is connected to the shore by a humpback bridge, which will lead to a monument to the sons of the Fatherland who died outside it. It was erected in memory of the fallen Afghan soldiers in 1996. Weeping willows along the perimeter of the island will rinse their long branches in the river, not ceasing to mourn the warriors.

The expressive monument resembles a temple similar in outline to the original appearance of the temple of Euphrosyne of Polotsk XI century, it is surrounded by figures of mourning women - Belarusian mothers mourning their dead sons. Inside are four altars carved with the names of fallen Afghan soldiers. 771 of them. Near each name, relatives and friends can light a candle. In each altar there is an icon. The inner surfaces of the walls and the dome of the monument are painted with biblical stories.

The temple is crowned with a cross with a ruby in the center. Lighted from below by a special lantern, the ruby burns with a drop of blood, symbolizing both the blood of Christ and the blood of fallen soldiers.

In the very center of the temple, land brought by mothers from the graves of their sons, as well as Afghan land, is laid in the ground. And a capsule with a list of the dead and an appeal to descendants. The visual image complements the ringing of bells and groans of specially placed strings.

Today, the Island of Tears has become a monument not only to Afghan soldiers, but also to all Belarusians who died in any battle. It is adapted so that everyone who wants to have the opportunity to remember and remember those who were dear to them and who gave their lives for the Fatherland.