600th anniversary of the Great Victory near Grunwald – Let’s celebrate together!

The deputies of the Lithuanian parliament proposed to the Belarusian citizens to perform a joint march to the Grunwald (or Dubrouna) field on July 14-18, 2010. The march will start from Hrodna where the army of the Great Kingdom of Lithuania  started the march to the Battle of Grunwald in 1410.

Belarusians accepted the proposal. The organizing committee for the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Great Victory near Grunwald was created in Minsk. Doctor of History and professor Anatol Hrytskievich became the head of the city organizing committee, and the artist Mikola Kupava became its deputy head.

The Movement for Freedom (the MFF) and several other organizations expressed their readiness to provide any possible assistance to the organizing committee.

It is planned that the festive march would be attended by the representatives of those ancient Belarusian cities and towns whose knights of the 40 gonfalons (regiments) fought on the Grunwald field in 1410: Vorsha, Bierastsie (Brest), Vaukavysk, Vilnia (now in Lithuania – Vilnius ), Vitsiebsk, Harodnia (Hrodna), Lida, Miedniki (Medininkai, now in Lithuania), Miensk (Minsk), Mstislau, Navahradak (Navahrudak), Pinsk, Polatsak (Polatsk), Smalensk (Smolensk, now in Russia), Staradub (Starodub, now in Russia), etc. 10 gonfalons belonged personally to the Great Kniaz (same as King) Vitaut.

According to the organizing committee, the Minsk volunteers have already begun making gonfalon banners on the basis of the sketches designed by the Pahonia artists’ association. The images on the gonfalon banners – with the cavalier in the centre (historical coat of arms of Belarus) – are made by the method of application. The dimensions of the gonfalon banners are 110 х 160 cm. The similar gonfalon banners will be made in several Belarusian cities and towns that will join the march.

Some 200 “knights” of the Belarusian clubs will take part in the reconstruction of the Battle of Grunwald that will happen on July 17. An eminent actor of one of the Belarusian theatres was invited to perform the role of Vitaut the Great. The musical support will be ensured by Belarusian bands of medieval music.

The organizing committee prepares the trip of Belarusians to the Dubrouna (Grunwald) field by two buses from Minsk from July 15 to July 18. It is planned that some 30 delegations from Belarusian cities and towns that took part in the Battle of Grunwald would come to Grunwald. The list of participants is prepared now of the trip to the site that is historic for Belarusians, and sacral for the successors of the Great Kingdom of Lithuania.

As part of the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the Great Victory near Grunwald, a round-table conference with the participation of well-known historians is planned in Minsk, as well as a festive celebration in the Grunwald restaurant on July 15, the consecration of the gonfalon banners made by volunteers, and special exhibitions of the works of Belarusian artists.

The organizers of the festive events will accept with gratitude any sponsor support from legal entities or individual persons. The best sponsors will be honoured with the right to escort kniaz Vitaut during the reconstruction of the Battle of Grunwald. Contact telephone numbers: 8 (029) 551 3236, 335 2494.

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