Sometimes Unexpected History of Belarusian Anthems: "We'll March in Serried Ranks", "Pahonia", "Long Live Belarus", "My Dear Homeland", "Mighty God" (with VIDEO)

Evening in Minsk, 2020. Photo: LookByMedia

Poignant memories have been preserved of how Belarusians celebrated Freedom Day in Soviet penal servitude, and how they baked homemade cakes in Lukashenka's prisons.

Under the terrible conditions of the 20th century, Belarusians managed to create a great culture. It's breathtaking how much we accomplished during short periods of relative freedom.

Indeed, Belarusians have a dozen powerful songs worthy of being called "national anthem".

"We'll March in Serried Ranks" by Krautsou and Terauski

The first in this series is "We'll March in Serried Ranks". Its text was written in 1919 by serviceman Makar Krautsou (real surname — Kastsevich).

Originally from near Hrodna, after returning from the front of the First World War, he was one of the founders of the Belarusian People's Republic. An interesting fact: he was the uncle of the revolutionary-Hramada member and poet Mikhas Vasilyok. Streets are already named after Vasilyok; Makar Krautsou deserves the same.

Павялічыць

Left — Makar Krautsou (Kastsevich) during the First World War. Photo Wikimedia Commons

Krautsou's poem resonated so deeply with his contemporaries that Uladzimir Terauski, a musical prodigy from near Slutsk and a regent of Orthodox church choirs, almost immediately composed hymn music for it.

In 1920, "Vayatski Marsh" (Warrior's March) was recognized as the anthem of the BNR.

We'll march in serried ranks
To our free native expanse.
May freedom be with us forever,
And we'll repel violence!..

Both Krautsou (in 1939) and Terauski (in 1938) were tortured to death by Soviet executioners.

Here is the anthem "We'll March in Serried Ranks" ("Warrior's March") with footage from the Unity March in Minsk on September 6, 2020.

"Pahonia" by Bahdanovich and Shchalou-Kulіkovich

Another Belarusian anthem is "Pahonia" with lyrics by Maksim Bahdanovich.

A gravely ill Bahdanovich barely missed living to see the declaration of Belarus's independence.

Павялічыць

First publication of the poem "Pahonia": November 30, 1917, in the newspaper "Volnaya Belarus". Photo: Wikimedia Commons

During the interwar period, "Pahonia" was performed to the tune of "La Marseillaise"; later, music for it was composed by Mikola Ravienski, Aliaksei Turankou, and Uladzimir Mulyavin.

The melody that took root and by which we now know "Pahonia" was composed by Mikalai Shchalou-Kulіkovich. A native of Smolensk region, he turned to "Pahonia" in 1950, already in emigration.

Shchalou-Kulіkovich is buried in a cemetery in Chicago, USA.

Here is "Pahonia" majestically performed by a choir and orchestra. Note that this version alone has garnered over a million views on YouTube.

"Mighty God" by Arsenneva and Ravienski

Until 2021, the anthem "Mighty God" concluded religious services for believers of various confessions in Belarus. It was performed at many festivals and celebrations. It is a majestic prayer for Belarus.

Natallia Arsenneva wrote it in 1943 — when the most terrible war of the 20th century was raging around. But the poem contains no ideology other than love for her native land.

Arsenneva was born in Baku into the family of a Russian customs officer. But she was destined to study at the Belarusian Gymnasium of Vilna, and she emerged from there as a Belarusian poetess.

Павялічыць

Natallia Arsenneva and poet Yauhen Skurko (Maksim Tank), 1936, Vilna. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

To save herself, in 1940 she was forced to sign recruitment papers for the NKVD under the pseudonym "Kazbich". In 1943, her school-age son died as a result of a Soviet terrorist act in occupied Minsk. Arsenneva is buried in Mount Hope in the USA.

In 1947, Mikola Ravienski set "Mighty God" to music.

He was a native of the Berezina district. A conservatory lecturer, Ravienski miraculously survived during the Soviet annihilation of the Belarusian elite in the late 1930s, but his brother was shot by the Soviets. During the war, Mikola Ravienski emigrated and became a member of the Rada of the BNR. So this music, too, was born in exile. Besides, in those times, the appearance of such a work in the BSSR would have been impossible.

Павялічыць

Grave of composer Mikola Ravienski in Leuven (Belgium). Photo Wikimedia Commons

Ravienski is buried in Leuven (Belgium).

"My Dear Homeland" by Bachyla and Alounikau

The anthem "My Dear Homeland" was also created in captivity — not Nazi, but Soviet. But in it, just like in "Mighty God," there is only love for one's land. Unlike the state anthem, it had no babble about the party or Lenin. That's why it was beloved by the people.

Poet Ales Bachyla, a native of Slutsk region, wrote it around 1950. Music for it was created by Uladzimir Alounikau, a native of Babruisk, who would later become the rector of the Belarusian Conservatory. Alounikau lived to see the declaration of independence of the Republic of Belarus.

Павялічыць

Minsk in 2020. Photo: LookByMedia

And its melody became the call sign of Belarusian Radio.

Originally, the song began lyrically:

I love to watch the mist wander
Over the river in the morning...

Павялічыць

Ales Bachyla's house in Leshnitsa, Slutsk district, 2025. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

However, its canonical version begins more hymnal:

My dear homeland,
Live in desired happiness!
I pledge my heart to you
In sincere filial love!

Here is this song performed by the Children's Choir of Belarusian Radio in 1985.

"Long Live Belarus!" by Pranchak and Rainchyk

And finally, another anthem was born on the wave of the struggle for Belarus's liberation at the end of the 20th century.

In 1990, its text was written by the songwriter-poet Leanid Pranchak, a native of Pranchaki village in Lyakhavichy district. And in 1992, a solemn melody for it was created by Vasil Rainchyk, a native of the famous Shklou, who had previously gained fame as the author of pop hits and music for symphony orchestras and ballets. Who would have thought that Rainchyk would become the composer for an anthem called "Long Live Belarus!", five years before it happened?

This anthem was criticized by conservatives as a neologism. But people loved it: it won both in the popular vote and during the 1992 state anthem competition, and again during the 2002 selection. Initially, it was called "Long Live Belarus!", but for a later competition, under Lukashenka, the text was changed to "Flourish, Belarus!"

Павялічыць

Minsk, 1996. Archival photo

Here is a performance of this anthem from 1992, overlaid with footage from the streets of Minsk at that time. Its text encrypts numerous cultural codes:

Long live Belarus! I believe it will live forever!
The light of Pahonia will inspire our hearts.
Long live! Long live our mighty and free land,
Unconquered by anyone and holy land.

Belarus! Belarus! May all troubles pass you by.
Live in happiness forever, my Homeland!

So — long live Belarus! May our times give birth to new songs — both here and there.

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