Andrei Halias

The memorial complex "Island of Courage and Sorrow," also known as "Island of Tears", is located in the very center of Minsk, on an artificial island in the Svisloch River, near the <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/58/description">Trinity Suburb</a>. This memorial is dedicated to Belarusian internationalist soldiers who died in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War from 1979 to 1989. Of the more than 30,000 Belarusians who participated in the fighting, 771 did not return home. The memorial has become a symbol of remembrance and grief for all those who gave their lives far from their homeland.

The construction of the complex began as early as 1988, while the war in Afghanistan was still ongoing. The official opening took place on August 3, 1996. The memorial project was developed by a group of architects and sculptors led by Yuri Pavlov. Their work was recognized as the best in a competition, and now this complex is one of the key <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/map">landmarks of Minsk</a>.

Visitors enter the island via an arched bridge that leads to the heart of the memorial—a chapel symbolizing the 12th-century Church of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. Inside the chapel, the names of all Belarusians who fell in Afghanistan are carved. An inscription on the walls of the chapel beneath an icon of the Virgin Mary reads: "This temple was erected to the sons who died in Afghanistan so that there would be no evil on either their own or foreign land."

The central figure of the complex is a sculpture of a weeping angel. This angel symbolizes endless sorrow for the fallen soldiers. The architects intended it to represent inconsolable grief, as the angel, in their view, failed in its holy mission to protect the young soldiers from death. There is a tradition among Minsk residents: newlyweds come to the angel, lay flowers at its feet, and brides rub the statue. It is believed that this ritual will bring happiness to the newly formed family and protect future sons from war.

The memorial is surrounded by large boulders on which the names of Afghan provinces are carved, where battles took place involving Soviet troops, including Belarusians. These stones symbolize the harsh Afghan mountains where many soldiers found their final resting place. The island's landscape is also designed to resemble mountains and the difficult conditions in which the battles were fought. The island's uneven terrain enhances the feeling of the harsh nature of the Afghan mountains. The composition is complemented by weeping willows leaning over the water, as if mourning the fallen.

One of the key elements of the complex is a symbolic memorial table. On memorial days, relatives, friends, and loved ones of those who did not return from the war gather around it. This table, designed in a strict style, symbolizes eternal memory of the fallen and serves as a place for memorial events. The composition of the memorial aims to commemorate not only those who died in Afghanistan but also those who died from emotional and physical wounds after returning home.

"Island of Tears" in Minsk has become a pilgrimage site for many residents and visitors. Almost all sightseeing tours of Minsk include a visit to this memorial, which has a profound emotional impact on every visitor. A special atmosphere reigns on the grounds of the complex, encouraging reflection on the tragedies of war and the value of peace. Every visitor finds something personal here: some find solace, some find peace, and some feel a connection to history and the memory of their ancestors.

This memorial has become a symbol of remembrance for all Belarusians who died not only in Afghanistan but in all wars. Today, the "Island of Tears" is not just a monument to specific events but a place created to remind current and future generations of the price of war and the importance of peace.

Thus, the memorial complex "Island of Courage and Sorrow" is not only an architectural masterpiece but also an important cultural and historical monument. Its symbolism and significance go beyond one specific conflict, reflecting the collective pain and memory of all Belarusians who died in combat.

纪念综合体“勇气与悲伤之岛”，也被称为“泪之岛”，位于明斯克市中心的斯维斯洛奇河上的人工岛上，靠近<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/58/description">特罗伊茨基郊区</a>。这座纪念碑是为了纪念在1979至1989年苏联-阿富汗战争中牺牲的白俄罗斯国际主义战士。在参战的三万多名白俄罗斯人中，771人未能返回家乡。这座纪念碑已成为悼念所有在远离家乡的地方献出生命的人们的象征。

纪念综合体的建设始于1988年，当时阿富汗战争尚未结束。官方开幕于1996年8月3日。纪念碑的项目由尤里·帕夫洛夫领导的建筑师和雕塑家团队设计。他们的作品在竞赛中被评为最佳，如今这一综合体已成为明斯克的主要<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/map">景点之一</a>。

游客通过一个拱形桥进入岛屿，桥通向纪念碑的核心——象征12世纪波洛茨克的圣尤弗洛西妮教堂的小教堂。教堂内刻有在阿富汗战斗中牺牲的所有白俄罗斯人的名字。教堂墙上圣母玛利亚的圣像下写着：“这座教堂是为在阿富汗牺牲的儿子们而建，以期不再有战争，无论在自己的还是异国的土地上。”

综合体的中心雕像是一位哭泣的天使。这个天使象征着对牺牲战士的无限哀悼。建筑师们设想它是无尽悲伤的化身，因为在他们看来，天使未能履行其神圣使命——保护年轻士兵免于死亡。明斯克居民中有一个传统：新婚夫妇来到天使前，在它脚下献上鲜花，新娘还会抚摸雕像。据说这一仪式会给新婚家庭带来幸福，并保佑未来的儿子远离战争。

纪念碑周围是刻有阿富汗省份名称的大石块，这些省份是苏军（包括白俄罗斯军队）参与战斗的地方。这些石块象征着阿富汗的严酷山脉，许多士兵在那里找到了他们的最后安息之地。岛上的地形也旨在模仿山脉和战争中艰苦的环境。不平整的地势增强了阿富汗山脉严酷自然环境的感觉。构图中垂柳垂向水面，仿佛也在悼念逝去的生命。

综合体的一个关键元素是象征性的悼念桌。在纪念日，未能从战争中归来的人的亲属、朋友和亲密的人会围绕它聚集。这张桌子采用简洁的风格，象征着对逝者的永恒记忆，并且是举行悼念活动的场所。纪念碑的设计旨在纪念不仅是在阿富汗牺牲的人们，还包括那些在归国后因精神和身体创伤而逝去的人们。

“泪之岛”已成为明斯克市民和游客的朝圣地。几乎所有的明斯克观光游都包括参观这座纪念碑，它对每个参观者都有深刻的情感影响。在纪念综合体的场地上，笼罩着一种特别的氛围，促使人们反思战争的悲剧和和平的珍贵。每位游客都在此找到了属于自己的东西：有人找到了安慰，有人获得了平静，还有人感受到与历史和祖先记忆的联系。

这座纪念碑已成为纪念所有牺牲的白俄罗斯人的象征，不仅限于阿富汗战争，而是包括所有战争。今天，“泪之岛”不仅仅是纪念特定事件的纪念碑，更是为了提醒当代和后代战争的代价和和平的重要性。

因此，纪念综合体“勇气与悲伤之岛”不仅是建筑杰作，还是重要的文化和历史遗迹。它的象征意义超越了单一冲突，反映了所有在战争中牺牲的白俄罗斯人的集体痛苦和记忆。