Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 3 September (BelTA) - The national scientific and educational expedition, Road to Holy Places, with the Holy Light from the Holy Sepulcher started at the Minsk Holy Ghost Church on 3 September, BelTA has learned.

“It is a great feast for us. This expedition carries the light of good, hope and the faith in justice,” Deputy Commissioner for Religions and Ethnicities Vladimir Lameko said at the opening ceremony. In his words, the work of scientists, reporters, and writers deserves respect for dedication. “The church helps us keep our inner voice of conscience in the working mode, the voice which helps us tell the good from the evil. If we keep this way, our people will have the strength of mind. The strength of mind means the strength of the nation,” Vladimir Lameko added.

The greeting speech from Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Pavel, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus was read out by Diocesan of Borisov, Vicar of the Minsk Diocese Veniamin. “It is the 21^st year as the scientific and educational expedition, Road to Holy Places, takes its start from the main church of the country. The expedition carries a lamp with the Holy Light, bringing spiritual enlightenment to different regions of the country,” the diocese noted. He added that the event has become an important factor uniting the church, the state and the society.

The national scientific and educational expedition, Road to Holy Places, is part of the Belarusian Written Language Day celebrations. The expedition will include stops at a number of churches in Minsk and other oblasts. The event will be wrapped up in Zaslavl with the celebrations of Belarusian Written Language Day on 6-7 September. The unveiling of the monument to Izyaslav, the founder of the city, will be one of the main draws of the event.