ZHIROVICHI, 25 June (BelTA) - Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi is a sacred place for believers from all over the world, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with the clergy in the monastery on 25 June, BelTA informs.
“Zhirovichi is a shrine of the Orthodox world, for Belarusian and other believers. It has been visited and will always be visited by people from all over the world,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
According to the president, the monastery and the agrotown of Zhirovichi will be turned into a true gem within three years.
"We have done a lot together: we have built many churches, revive parishes, open weekend schools, restore Belarusian shrines. A lot has been done here, but we must finish our job to adorn this gem. This is a wonderful place,” the president said. He instructed to announce a tender for the renovation and modernization of the monastery and churches and to launch the project of the tender winner by the end of the year.
The head of state also deemed it necessary to create comfortable conditions for students of the seminary which is located on the territory of the monastery. “We need to think what else we can do for seminarians. Future priests are not only the foundation of the Orthodox church but also an important stone in the foundation of Belarusian statehood. They need decent conditions for life and studies here,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
After the meeting with the president Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl told reporters about the renovation plans. In his words, it is necessary to repair the main church of the monastery – the Holy Assumption Church. It is essential to renovate decorations and repair the roof.
“Then it is planned to build a new bell tower which should be tall and magnificent to make the monastery even more impressive,” the metropolitan said.
The territory of the monastery and the agrotown of Zhirovichi will beautified. “It should impress and please the eye of all guests,” the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus added.
