Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 22 December (BelTA) – Belarusians should learn to appreciate the peace that we have in our country, Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, told reporters before the annual general meeting of the Minsk Eparchy of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, BelTA has learned.

“I wish that next year be peaceful, prosperous, and creative. I would also like to wish us the God's blessings. When looking around, seeing what is going on in the world, we need to learn to appreciate the peace that we have in the country. I wish that creative work help everyone, strengthens our spirits and makes our homeland stronger,” Metropolitan Pavel said.

He also drew attention to the fact that today people come under the influence of various beliefs, cults and ideologies, including Oriental ones. “We are encouraged to believe in some unusual things: the year of the rooster, the goat. But one year is no different from another. On the eve of the New Year, especially in the days of Christmas Lent, the Church calls on people to pause and think. If you have hurt or offended someone, ask forgiveness, if you have done something wrong, think about it, repent and avoid making the same mistakes next year. This is what it means to aspire towards perfection,” the Metropolitan said. He explained that such beliefs are able to take root due to the lack of proper religious education in families. “Today, thanks to the Internet, people can watch and read anything they want, and young people and children, unfortunately, have no protective immunity. If they received due religious and moral education in their families, then everyone would be able to distinguish between right and wrong. Therefore, the task for the church is to explain this to the people, teach them the difference between right and wrong, show what they should be careful of, and what habits they should give up,” the Metropolitan added.

The Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus drew special attention to the work of the clergy with the youth and stressed that it is necessary to make more effort to attract young people to the church. The work with the youth was the focus of the speech delivered by archpriest Ioann Zadorozhin chairing the department for youth affairs of the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.

The general meeting of the Minsk Eparchy was held under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus at the Belarus Hotel in Minsk. Attending the meeting were all Orthodox priests of Minsk and Minsk Oblast, hegumenes of patriarchal and eparchial monasteries, heads of eparchial departments, brotherhoods and sisterhoods.

The meeting discussed church activities, the relations between the Church and the state, and the eparchial social and youth service.

According to the Russian Orthodox Church, the Eparchial Assembly is an administrative body overseen by eparchial bishop. The Eparchial Assembly is composed of representatives of the clergy and laity of the eparchy. The Eparchial Assembly is convened by the eparchial bishop.