MINSK, 7 January (BelTA) – The church in Belarus is part of an independent sovereign state, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said during the Christmas church service at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk on 7 January, BelTA has learned.
According to the President, he does not understand the church and state separation thesis. “Today the church in Belarus is one of the strongholds of our state that secures balance in our society together with other stakeholders,” said Alexander Lukashenko. “The church and our priests, as no one else in the world, have done a lot for peace and stability in our state. So where is our church? Inside the state, of course,” he stated.
Alexander Lukashenko noted that the authority should not interior with the church affairs. “The church is an independent organization in our state. We support it. Please tell me: Does the church function in line with the law, the Constitution? Of course, it does. Who creates laws and the Constitution? The state and its representatives do. This is the answer to the actual state of things,” stressed the President.
“Following the collapse of the Soviet Union I have never heard the church pursuing the issue of being separated from the state. I have not heard our Russian Orthodox Church to declare this. The church has always been and will remain one of the strongholds of our state,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
“Everyone in the church should understand that the church functions as part of the sovereign and independent state. Yes, we are part of this Orthodox world which is called Russian Orthodox Church. We do not aim at some wield autonomy and independence. We will discuss it with the priests once again. The church should develop,” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The head of state expressed confidence that the church should not stay unchanged in order to perform its function. “The church should not stay frozen. Our church needs improvements and I have said it many times. As the head of state I will promote it, as far as it is possible,” stressed Alexander Lukashenko.
The Belarusian leader underlined that the world had changed. “We have never been as sovereign and independent as we are today. All the governmental bodies and organizations, including the church, should adjust to it and improve themselves. I would like to reiterate that all of us, including the church, should understand that we are sovereign and independent,” the President said.
“I know that any organization has its problems. Our church has them too. We will not hide it, especially on the day of the Nativity of Christ. Life has both its advantages and drawbacks. The same is true about our church. I know that we have a lot of priests that wait for something from the President. I will say it again. Today is not the best time to debate it. We will discuss this topic at our forth coming meeting. I have said the main thing however: you act inside the sovereign and independent state. We have always had a united and beautiful church, and I mean not only our buildings. The church has always been the soul of our people. It will always be so,” the head of state said.
The President stated: “No one will be allowed to destroy the unity of our church. Interpret my words as you wish. The church has always been an example for us to follow, and it will remain so.”
The President stressed that great priests work in Belarus. “May God give such priests to any state. I think that sound powers, and there are the majority of them, will always hold the advantage in outlining the development ways for our church and our state,” stressed the President.
Alexander Lukashenko extended his Christmas congratulations to all the present and the whole Belarusian nation, wishing everyone peace and goodness.
