Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko: There are many points of contact between state, Orthodox church

Minsk, 14 March (BelTA) - The state and the Orthodox Church have many points of contact, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting with the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church in Minsk on 14 March, BelTA has learned.

First of all, the head of state thanked Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, for the invitation to take part in the meeting with the Synod.

"Solid foundations have been laid in our country for cooperation between the Belarusian Orthodox Church and our government, the state as a whole. It could not be otherwise. The history of Orthodoxy in the Belarusian lands is inextricably linked with the history of our statehood," the president said. He drew attention to the fact that many military conflicts happened here, at the junction of civilizations. In such conditions, it was extremely difficult for a nation to form and declare itself, not to mention to create a state.

"The Belarusians have succeeded. This is largely due to the spiritual core of our ancestors. Therefore, the state and the Orthodox Church have many points of contact," Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

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