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Mozyr -a Town in Belarus - but not any Town !!! In Belarussian Polesye, where the Pripyat turns south-east, proudly carrying its waters to the Dneiper, there stands one of Belarus' oldest towns - Mozyr. It is situated on several hills and numerous small valleys. Perhaps its name is derived from the Scandanavian "mosyr" meaning dampness or the Turkish "mosar" meaning hill.
Before the Revolution it was a small provincial town. The Revolution brought new life but also difficult changes. The peaceful hardworking nature of its people was shattered during the Second World War and great suffering ensued.. The Mound of Glory is one of the revered places in the town and the Eternal Flame at the foot of the Grand Obelisk reminds us all of those who gave their lives for freedom and happiness. What is my native town today
? It is a large industrial centre whose industries include oil refining, salt
processing and furniture manufacture. The oil refinery works only with
Belarussian oil producing petrol, diesel and paraffins. The economic development
of the town has proven difficult but new ways are always being investigated to
improve trade and development and modernise machinery and technology. This is a short paraphrase of the description of Mozyr by my dear friend Svetlana Varankina and although she would never like to write about the true riches of herself and her town I know she will forgive me when I say that she has not covered fully that which truly lies within Mozyr. I will not apologise for now relating what modern day life is about.
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The
town has had a long and eventful history. Walking along its winding up and down
streets you can feel the touches of the past away centuries. The town was first
mentioned in the Chronicles of 1155 and lay on the merchants' road from the
Baltic to the Black Sea. Many handicrafts developed in the town and also
contributed to its growth. Many times through history was the town destroyed but
like the phoenix always rose from the ashes. 