Lukashenka To Patriarch Kirill: You Must Know Our Position

The dictator met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church on the eve of the Synod in Minsk.

Today, Lukashenka has spoken about the “unity of the Church” at a meeting with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill, BelTA informs.

“Unfortunately, our Church frequently became a hostage of interstate relations, sometimes because of our wrong acts, – the Belarusian dictator said. – You must know our firm position that schism is always a bad thing, bad consequences. That is why we are very much concerned of what is going on in the Orthodox Church today.”

Lukashenka stressed that the modern world has changed. “Besides that its development pace has accelerated, the world has changed to the worse. The entire population on the planet is hostages today. This means low spirits, first of all. The spirit has always been the responsibility of the Church. Those changes, therefore, affect the Church,” – Lukashenka stated.

The dictator warmly welcomed the patriarch in Belarus, noting that this is dear land for both of them. “Every time, ahead of our meeting, I recall the period of your service before your patriarchal rank. I keep in memory your movement from Smolensk to Kaliningrad via Belarus [Patriarch Kirill served as Archbishop of Smolensk and Kaliningrad and often traveled through Belarus]. Perhaps it was then that you fell in love with this land,” – Lukashenka said.

He wished Patriarch Kirill wisdom and patience. “We, church-goers, will do our best to support the unity to keep peace on the Earth. We have approached the dangerous line too close,” – Lukashenka noted.