Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 2 June (BelTA) – The Orthodox-Catholic forum in Minsk will contribute to the promotion of good relations between representatives of the two confessions. The opinion was voiced by Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz on the first day of the fourth forum, BelTA has learned.

Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz said that he had taken part in the first three forums and every time many countries competed for the right to host the event. “The matter of the place where the next forum will be held was raised in Lisbon in 2012… When I told them about our situation and relations [between representatives of the two confessions in Belarus], everyone voted in favor of Belarus. The forum will contribute to the formation of a positive image of Belarus and certainly to the favorable development of relations between Catholic and Orthodox believers,” the Metropolitan is convinced.

In his words, a dialogue between religions is very important in the modern world, the society and the state. “Catholic and Orthodox bishops from many countries will talk about the level of the moral life of Europeans during the forum since many people are refusing to follow the evangelical canons and live the way as if god didn’t exist,” noted the Metropolitan.

He remarked that the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church should think about what they should do to change the situation. “The present forum is a response of our churches to the challenges of the time,” said the Metropolitan.

After the event that will last till 6 June the next venue for the forum will be selected. Following the established tradition forums are held alternatively in countries with primarily Catholic and Orthodox majorities.

The global meeting of religious figures was initiated in 2012 by Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Filaret (Emeritus Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus at present) and Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. The international public association Christian Education Center named after Saints Methodius and Cyrill has contributed a lot to the organization of the forum.