ZHIROVICHI, 25 June (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko paid tribute to Metropolitan Filaret at his burial place in the Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi on 25 June, BelTA has learned.
The burial place of Metropolitan Filaret is located behind the Holy Cross Church of the monastery. Aleksandr Lukashenko honored the memory of the first head of the Belarusian Orthodox Church in the history of independent Belarus and left a basket of white roses on his grave. These were the favorite flowers of the late metropolitan, and the president would always give him these flowers during his lifetime.
The president had a meeting with the clergy in the monastery. He emphasized the important role Metropolitan Filaret played for the Belarusian society and the state. Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed to the metropolitan's devoted service to his country and his wise spiritual leadership. “We were on very good terms, we were addressing the same problem. I think that today he looks at us from above and probably approves of what we do,” the Belarusian leader said.
Metropolitan Filaret was in charge of the Belarusian Orthodox Church for over two decades. Under him, all historical dioceses were revived in Belarus, monasteries and convents were re-opened, brotherhoods and sisterhoods resumed their work. Through the efforts of His Eminence, the Minsk Spiritual Seminary was reopened, the Minsk Spiritual Academy, the spiritual school and the school of catechists were established, hundreds of churches were built.
The work of Metropolitan Filaret was widely acknowledged both domestically and internationally, but the Belarusians appreciated him most of all for his big heart.
“Metropolitan Filaret was called the benchmark of morality and conscience of the nation for a reason. His head pastor's service in Belarus coincided with the rise of our independent state. Thanks to the support and fatherly advice of the metropolitan, we jointly built a strong sovereign state where everyone lives in peace, harmony and there is no place for religious enmity. Our long-term friendship and huge mutual respect became a powerful spiritual support for me. We lost the Hero of Belarus, a mentor and the most candid defender who prayed for our country and its people until his last breath,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said in his message of condolences to Belarusian people in connection with the death of Metropolitan Filaret.
