The great Orthodox holiday of the Nativity of Christ brings spiritual purification, salvation from all difficulties and life obstacles, faith, and bright hope. This holiday elevates the human soul above the mundane and brings joy to all people, regardless of age. We wholeheartedly offer our warmest congratulations and prepare gifts for our relatives and loved ones. Children, among whom are many talented artisans, performers, and singers, await the magical holiday of the Nativity of Christ with particular excitement. This was confirmed by the inter-school children's Christmas festival "Bethlehem Star," which was held in our district for the third time this year. The idea of organising the festival originated with the rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Vladimirskaya," Archpriest Vladimir Dagodzka, who supported the proposal of the pupils of Zaslonovo Secondary School, pupils of the Sunday school of the Transfiguration of the Lord Church in Lepel, to perform a festive concert for the New Year. It is very pleasing that more and more children are joining the festival each year.
Melodious chords of music called all guests to the assembly hall of the district House of Culture. The Deputy Chairman of the District Executive Committee, Nikolai Nikitin, addressed all guests with warm words of welcome. Veronika Malyavka, a seventh-grader from Sloboda Secondary School, performed the song "Bethlehem Star" excellently. The young singer performed this song for the first time at the festival two years ago. At that time, she greatly impressed the respected Archbishop Piotr, Bishop of Drutsk, Vicar of the Vitebsk Diocese. Thus, the idea arose to start the festival with this wonderful song every year.
Pupils of Secondary School No. 3 greeted the audience with festive verses and the song “Christmas Has Come”. Student Alena Krupitskaya of the Sunday school of the Transfiguration of the Lord Church met the audience with poetic lines. The lines of the song performed by pupils of the Sunday school of the Nativity of Christ Church of Lepel, and the vocal group “Nota” of Zaslonovo Secondary School, were heard with emotion and sincerity. Pupils of Horki Secondary School performed the beautiful dance composition “Christmas”. 
Alina Andriyeuskaya, a teacher-organizer of the republican children's rehabilitation and health improvement centre “Zhemchuzhina”, congratulated all the participants of the holiday on the Nativity of Christ on behalf of the centre and presented festive postcards and memorable gifts to the authors of the best works, who presented their creations at the exhibition “The Nativity of Christ Through the Eyes of Children”. Awards were received by pupils of the Sunday schools of the Transfiguration of the Lord Church of Chashniki, the St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa Church (Lepel), young artisans of Secondary School No. 3, pupils of the decorative and applied arts club “Vesyolka” of the Territorial Centre for Social Services under the guidance of Valentina Gonchar, as well as children from the Gomel region undergoing rehabilitation at “Zhemchuzhina”. In addition, festive gifts were presented to the young pupils of the Centre for Correctional and Developmental Education and Rehabilitation from the private company “Vladionstroy” from Minsk, managed by Alexander Artyukhovich.
A bright festive kaleidoscope of heartfelt poems, songs, and dances formed on the stage. Pupils of the Sunday school of the Transfiguration of the Lord Church of Chashniki, pupils of Secondary School No. 1, Secondary School No. 4, and Yerashov Gymnasium delighted the audience with their performances. The stage action was organically complemented by performances of pupils from Slobodskaya and Borovskaya Secondary Schools, and the Zaslonovo Children's Art School. Pupils of the Centre for Correctional and Developmental Education and Rehabilitation, the Lepel Children's Art School, the vocal group “Kolyadochki” of the Children's Creativity Centre, and the Lepel State Vocational Lyceum joined the festive event. The festive event concluded with a performance by Oleg Dyman, the music director of the Lepel State Vocational Lyceum, who performed a “Christmas Composition” on the violin.
Sviatlana Silvanovich, photo by author
In the photos: a sweet angel's smile warmed people's hearts; the wonderful exhibition "The Nativity of Christ Through the Eyes of Children" left no one indifferent; Father Vladimir Dogodko with students of the Zaslonovo Children's Art School.
