churches in the area, only one church has survived in the village of blon; in the 1930s, the priest alexander shalaywas born in 1879 in slutsk, served in the church. when the soviet government closed the church in august 1935, the bells were removed from it, the priest remained in blon, continuing his service in houses of believers. father alexander was a man of strong religious convictions, a zealous man of prayer and a caring shepherd. after the closure of the holy trinity church, during the all-union population census, she organized the collection of signatures among the residents of blonya for the opening of a local church. the priest was reminded of all this when he was arrested on august 6 , 1937. father alexander was accused of counter-revolutionary agitation aimed at destroying collective farms, but the real reason for his arrest was something else, his unwillingness to renounce his faith in god and the priesthood. father alexander found the strength not to admit guilt. proteri alexander shalaya was sentenced to death without trial. relatives of this saint came, his nephew, who now lives in