Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 December (BelTA) – The dedicated service of Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus has gained him well-deserved respect and recognition of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the public, Metropolitan of Minsk and Mogilev, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz said in a message on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church on the occasion of Metropolitan Filaret’s retirement, BelTA has learnt.

“For thirty-five years you led the Eastern Orthodox Church in Belarus. Over this time you did not only revive it, you also raised it to a very high level of development and service. A testimony to that are new eparchies, religious schools, monasteries, publishing houses, parishes, and establishment of a dialogue with the public. Thanks to your efforts and prayers, the relations between various religions and denominations have greatly improved. The joint efforts of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church helped protect Christian values. We really appreciate it,” the message reads.

Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz also congratulated the newly appointed Metropolitan Pavel of Ryazan and Mikhailov. He expressed confidence that the new Exarch will remain loyal to the cause started by Metropolitan Filaret who revived the Eastern Orthodox Church in Belarus after three generations of persecutions, who managed to reach out to the public with a Christian message and promoted peace and harmony between religions and denominations.

“Your extensive ministerial experience will help you promote the Eastern Orthodox Church and maintain good relations with the Catholic Church, which is particularly important at a time when we need to stick together to protect Christian values and proclaim the Gospel to the secular world,” the message reads.