The coat of arms of Grodno is the pride of all Belarusians

Today almost every city has its own coat of arms, usually reflecting the specifics of a particular locality or some symbol relating to the city.

The coat of arms of Grodno

In 1988, on June 15, at the session of the executive committee, in the Grodno City Council of People's Deputies, a modern image of the city coat of arms was approved.

On it there is an image of a deer, which jumps over a fence of silver, on a blue background. The head of the animal between the horn is decorated with a golden cross.

Symbols and history of the coat of arms of Grodno

Grodno became one of the first cities on the territory of Belarus, which received the Magdeburg right, which became complete by 1444, because of the privileges that the Grand Duke of Lithuania, Kazimierz IV Jagellonchik, gave.

Historians argue that for the first time the city received a coat of arms in 1540. This year it was presented to the city by the Polish queen and the Grand Duchess of Lithuania Bona Sforza. At the same time, one of the first seals, where the coat of arms of Grodno figured, are dated 1565. They can see the image of a galloping deer, with a golden cross on its head. This animal is associated with the reindeer of St. Hubert.

Saint Hubert was called the Catholic saint, Bishop of Liege, the patron saint of hunters. He first lived at the royal court of Theodoric III, then at Pipin's court.

In his youth, he very much revered hunting and often stayed for a long time in the forest lands, while possessing desperate courage. Once, hunting, he fell into a terrible storm. After retreating from other hunters, he lost his way in the dense thicket of the forest.

Having lost all hope of salvation, he began to pray earnestly, when suddenly noticed in the middle of a tree a deer, whose cross horns shone with a cross.

Hubert followed this amazing animal. Soon he managed to get out of the forest thicket. He was very surprised and after this event completely changed his outlook. If before this he was not distinguished by virtuous behavior, then in the future he began to lead the life of a good Christian by giving away all the property to the needy, and then went to the spiritual life altogether.

After his death in 727, Hubert was elevated to the rank of saint. Since antiquity in the West, St. Hubert is revered as the patron of hunting and the animal world, especially dogs.

This is the reason that in Belgium, a temple dedicated to this saint is allowed to enter with a hunting dog, which is strictly forbidden by the Catholic canons.

The third of November is considered the day of this saint.

Specificity of the city of Grodno

Hrodna citizens revered St. Hubert as the patron of hunters and considered him an example in moral self-improvement.

It was the hunting industry for this ancient city that was practically the main activity.

Around the city there were Belovezhskaya and Grodno forests with the richest hunting grounds. In the future, they received the status of royal. In particular, near the city during the hunt, the Polish King Stefan Batory froze and died.

In the vicinity of Grodno, large meat animals were mined: bison, tours, deer, wild boar.

Fence, which overcomes a deer with a cross on its head, was added to the coat of arms of Grodno a little later, as a symbol of freedom of the inhabitants of the city.

Changes in the coat of arms in different periods

When in 1795 the city of Grodno entered the Russian Empire, the old coat of arms had to be abandoned. By 1802 the Grodno province received a new approved coat of arms of Grodno, where at the top of the shield there was an image of a rider, whose shield, in turn, was decorated with a cross with eight ends. (The so-called "pursuit" was later used as the state coat of arms of the Byelorussian SSR until 1995.) Bottom of the coat of arms was a bison, the background behind which was made red.

06.04.1845 the rider with the coat of arms was removed. In 1878, changed the appearance of the image of a bison. The coat of arms of Grodno at that time was decorated with the imperial crown, ribbon and oak leaves.

The present coat of arms

Adopted on 15.06.1988, the modern coat of arms of Grodno, whose photo can be seen at the beginning of this article, has its authors. It was invented and painted by Vitaly Andreevich Frolov and Sergei Vasilyevich Ilyin.

This heraldic symbol in each of its elements lays its meaning. For example, the word "hedge" in its etymology refers to the concept of "fence off", which is consonant with the ancient name of this settlement - Goroden.

According to the context of the composition of the coat of arms in a fence, the city itself, which is patronized by Saint Hubert, is peculiarly depicted. The last symbolizes a deer with a golden cross, located above the fence.