MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) – Metropolitan Filaret, Honorary Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, was a true hero of Belarus, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said during the ceremony to present the Spiritual Revival Awards, prizes to art luminaries and the Belarusian Sports Olympus Awards on 12 January, BelTA has learned.
The head of state noted that the best traits of the Belarusian national character – kindness and compassion, diligence and determination, creativity and brilliance – can be found in everyone.
“Metropolitan Filaret was a true hero of Belarus, a sincere and open person. Unfortunately, he has passed away. He stood at the origins of today's ceremony and supported all awardees with his blessing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president stressed that Metropolitan Filaret will forever remain in the history of Belarus as an example of selfless service to Christian values that unite Belarusians.
“Our common goal is to be worthy descendants of Metropolitan Filaret and other great figures in the long history of our native land and to preserve the link between times and epochs that new generations could rely on,” the head of state pointed out.
The participants of the ceremony observed a minute of silence in memory of Metropolitan Filaret.
Metropolitan Filaret was hospitalized with a disease linked to the coronavirus on 16 December 2020. He passed away in hospital on 12 January 2021.
