Pilgrimage to Suprasl   WALKER  PILGRIMAGE  BIALYSTOK – SUPRASL   (9 August)       Pilgrimage began at 1 p.m. with the prayer, August 9, in the church under invocation of Hagia Sophia - the Holy Wisdom (Bialystok-Jaroszowka). Half-way in Ogrodniczki, pilgrims stopped for short prayer and relaxation near a cross. After 4 hours (at 5 p.m.) pilgrims was reach to Suprasl. Usually, over 2 thousand pilgrims took part in the pilgrimage from Bialystok. Also smaller pilgrimages set off to Suprasl from other place, for example from Sokolka, Bielsk, Hajnowka. Usually, over 5 thousands orthodox people all together participated in the ceremony. A service began at 6 p.m. in the church of the Annunciation.       The pilgrimage to Suprasl associated with feast of Suprasl Icon of the Mother of God. It is main feast in the Suprasl Monastery (also festive celebrated in monastery: feast of the Annunciation of the Holy Lady Virgin Mary - its named of the main church of monastery, and the feast of St. John the Theologian - its named second little church at the monastery). The miraculous Suprasl Icon of the Mother of God from 1503 founded by Joseph Soltan, bishop of Smolensk (later the metropolitan of Kijev), once from two founders of Suprasl Monastery. Icon was a copy of the Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God from Smolensk (from XI century). The Suprasl icon of the Mother of God was regarded as miraculous. During the First World War the majority of the monks went to Russia. It was then when the Suprasl Icon of the Mother of God was taken to Russia where it was lost - nowadays in the monastery there is a copy made for the 400 anniversary of the Suprasl Lavra (founded in 1500).       On August 10, during the feast of Suprasl Icon of Mother of God at 10 a.m. a festive liturgy was held in the church of the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary which is being reconstructed. It is a main temple of the Suprasl Monastery.