Description

A small village named Hrybaščyna on the Belarusian-Polish borderland, in the Sokółka region. The village ended up on the frontier after the border was established, but during the times described by the author, this was Western Belarus, inhabited mainly by Orthodox Christians with a small number of Catholics. A man lived in the village — Alyash (Elias) Klimovich, who, calling himself God’s anointed, created a sect. To tell the truth, Alyash did not consider himself a prophet, but the local folk and the rumors of his “abilities” spreading through the neighborhood gave birth to this phenomenon — the self-styled prophet Alyash Klimovich.

The novel is based on true facts and describes events that actually took place in the Sokółka region. To this day, a church built by Alyash stands in Hrybaǔščyna, and the “prophet” himself, shot by the Germans during World War II, is buried in the village cemetery. A story without positive heroes, yet filled with Christian compassion for everyone. Though the author himself would likely disagree with such an interpretation.