{"id":83708,"date":"2024-05-05T21:06:49","date_gmt":"2024-05-05T18:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/83708\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:40:57","slug":"moscow-patriarch-thanks-lukasenka-for-supporting-eastern-orthodoxy","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/83708\/","title":{"rendered":"Moscow Patriarch thanks \u0141uka\u0161enka for supporting Eastern Orthodoxy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n (patriarchia.ru)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

May 5, Pozirk.<\/em><\/strong> Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’, has offered Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka his “sincere gratitude” for “supporting the educational ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Belarusian exarchate” as Orthodox believers in Belarus celebrate Easter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eastern Orthodoxy is the predominant religion in the country. The Russian Orthodox Church considers Belarus its canonical territory. Its Belarusian Exarchate estimates the number of believers at four million. The Belarusian Exarchate has 1,737 parishes in 15 dioceses, 1,878 active churches and 147 churches under construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am convinced that the development of our traditionally good cooperation will continue to promote the wellbeing of the people and affirm high moral ideals in society,” Kirill said, as quoted by the Russian Orthodox Church’s press office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On many occasions earlier, he spoke in support of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The church’s position under Kirill’s leadership prompted many dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) to stop mentioning him in their prayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of the clergy advocated breaking ties with the Russian Orthodox Church. In addition, Orthodox faithful in the Baltic states contemplated leaving Moscow’s jurisdiction (in September 2022, the Latvian Saeima adopted a bill on the independence of the Latvian Orthodox Church).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kirill’s rhetoric on the military aggression was one of the reasons for the Holy See to postpone his meeting with Pope Francis indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the political crisis began in 2020, Belarusian authorities have intimidated, arrested and threatened spiritual leaders and communities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congregations have been targeted by state propaganda, Christian Vision (Chry\u015bcijanskaja Vizija) said in a report submitted to Ana\u00efs Marin, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on Belarus, in February 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the group, 19 Orthodox, 25 Roman Catholic, five Greek Catholic and 25 Protestant clerics were persecuted between September 2020 and March 28, 2024.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

May 5, Pozirk. Kirill, the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus’, has offered Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka his “sincere gratitude” for “supporting the educational ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Belarusian exarchate” as Orthodox believers in Belarus celebrate Easter. Eastern Orthodoxy is the predominant religion in the country. The Russian Orthodox Church considers Belarus its canonical territory. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":83671,"template":"","rubric":[13],"class_list":["post-83708","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","rubric-society"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMoscow Patriarch thanks \u0141uka\u0161enka for supporting Eastern Orthodoxy | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"May 5, Pozirk. 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