Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko explains decision behind his visit to church near Dnieper on Easter

ORSHA, 5 May (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko told the parishioners in Orsha on 5 May why he decided to visit St. Ilya Church of the Holy Dormition Convent near the Dnieper on Easter. The river has united three fraternal Slavic peoples - Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians - for many centuries, BelTA has learned.

“I chose this church not only because I was born here, on the banks of this majestic ancient river. I thought about the fact that our river Dnieper and this church have always united our peoples. This is a very ancient temple. We have few such churches in Belarus. This river and this church have always united three Slavic peoples - Russians, Ukrainians and us, Belarusians,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted with regret that there was an ongoing conflict in the neighboring country. “I am absolutely convinced that with our prayers we will return to the times when our peoples will be together,” the Belarusian leader emphasized. “We hope that this holy month of May will bring peace to our brotherly people. And we will once again celebrate all the holidays on the banks of the Dnieper together, as it used to be before.”

“Since time has chosen us, we must preserve peace and quiet in our land. This is the most important task for our generation,” the president said.

In his words, on Easter people in churches or at home in front of icons pray first of all for their health and the health of their loved ones. “I absolutely agree with you here. The main thing is health. As I always say: health comes first, the rest is achievable,” the Belarusian leader said.

People also pray for peace. “People need nothing if there is no peace, no peace with yourself, in your souls and hearts. It is a tragedy if there is no peace in the family, if there is no peace in the country. We have fully realized this now,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He added that if earlier we heard about wars somewhere far away, now the war was actually raging behind the fence, at the doorstep of Belarus.

“On this day we also pray for daily bread, so that everyone has it on their tables. We have achieved this. Older people remember very well what was it like 30 years ago. We lacked even bread then,” the head of state said.

Most importantly, Aleksandr Lukashenko continued, people pray for a peaceful sleep for their children. He recalled that a lot of children from Donbass come to Belarus for vacation now: “And after a week spent here, they are asked what they are dreaming about. They say: “We dream about peace and quiet in our homeland. We want to fall asleep and wake up to tranquility, not to the sounds of bombings.”

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