From the East to Llandudno
Llandudno Celtic Winter Fayre on November 21st – 25th will this year host nuns from St Elisabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus.
Sister Tatiana said “Our Convent, named after St Elisabeth was founded in Minsk in 1999. It originated from the Sisterhood that had been serving in the Republican Psychiatric Hospital, The Mental Institute for adults, a home for children with mental and physical disabilities and one of the city's hospitals."
“In 1994 first sisters of mercy - young girls, parishioners of the
cathedral in Minsk volunteered to take care of patients of the
psychiatric hospital. 1999 saw transformation of several of our sisters into nuns. At present the Convent houses 75 nuns and novices altogether. There are also many sisters of mercy serving in the Convent as well. Construction work is still in progress; the work carried out in the hospitals is broadening and the charitable work aimed at helping orphans, homeless people, drug and alcohol addicts is developing.”
“30 kilometers (20 miles) from Minsk, there is a farm where people who have lost their place in the world find shelter and work, trying to reintegrate into the society and to start a new life.”
“There are a number of workshops on the grounds of the Convent which produce candles, ceramics, make and paint, pictures made of semiprecious stones, embroideries, woodwork and metalwork.”
“From time to time two of the sisters and helper Leonid drive the 3,000 miles round trip to visit Great Britain with an aim of fundraising for the disadvantaged residents. We come by van with our workshops' products and visit some parishes, abbeys' and some cathedrals' shops and offer our items for sale. This year we will visit The Celtic Fayre and try to raise money for further construction and charitable work.”
The Belarus nuns hope to have a wonderful time at the Llandudno Celtic Winter Fayre and will head back to Minsk in Belarus with lots of money for their orphanage. George Newson, Chair of The Celtic Winter Fayre Committee said “it is fantastic for the Celtic Fayre to be associated with the good work these kind, sympathetic nuns undertake for disadvantaged children and adults in the city of Minsk”.