BREST, 17 February (BelTA) - The Brest Customs was presented with a banner (chorugv) featuring the Apostle and Evangelist Matthew in a solemn ceremony on 17 February, BelTA has learned.
The ceremony took place at the garrison church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Brest Fortress. The event was attended by clergy and customs officers. Archbishop Ioann of Brest and Kobrin conducted a prayer service and consecrated the spiritual banner. He emphasized that customs officers, being on the front line, protect the interests of the country and its people.
“This service requires composure, balance, reasonable and fair decisions. Therefore, a customs officer must maintain steadfastness and at the same time remember that he is defending the Fatherland. Customs officers prevent cases where someone tries to cause harm, to illegally export things (even if they do not have great value). This is the property of the people and the Fatherland. If a person transports something and does not declare it, but hides it, then that is deception - a sin and a violation of the law,” the Archbishop noted, highlighting one aspect of the service. He recounted that thanks to the vigilance of Brest customs officers, two ancient icons that criminals intended to smuggle abroad were handed over to the church. 
Archbishop Ioann of Brest and Kobrin presented the banner to head of the Brest Customs Sergei Yakuta. On one side of the banner is the coat of arms of the Brest Customs. The other side features Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, who, before meeting Christ, served as a publican - a tax collector. He is considered the patron and protector of customs officers.
“Today is a landmark event for the Brest Customs. We have received the banner symbolizing God's blessing for our service and the defense of our Homeland. It is symbolic that the event took place on the sacred and heroic land of Brest Fortress. It was with the feat of its defenders that the path to the Great Victory began,” Sergei Yakuta emphasized. “The tasks facing the customs authorities are complex and require coordination, unity, and efficiency from us. The spiritual banner we have received will give us strength to accomplish them.”
Photos by Violetta Yuzhakova/BelTA
The ceremony took place at the garrison church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Brest Fortress. The event was attended by clergy and customs officers. Archbishop Ioann of Brest and Kobrin conducted a prayer service and consecrated the spiritual banner. He emphasized that customs officers, being on the front line, protect the interests of the country and its people.
“This service requires composure, balance, reasonable and fair decisions. Therefore, a customs officer must maintain steadfastness and at the same time remember that he is defending the Fatherland. Customs officers prevent cases where someone tries to cause harm, to illegally export things (even if they do not have great value). This is the property of the people and the Fatherland. If a person transports something and does not declare it, but hides it, then that is deception - a sin and a violation of the law,” the Archbishop noted, highlighting one aspect of the service. He recounted that thanks to the vigilance of Brest customs officers, two ancient icons that criminals intended to smuggle abroad were handed over to the church. Archbishop Ioann of Brest and Kobrin presented the banner to head of the Brest Customs Sergei Yakuta. On one side of the banner is the coat of arms of the Brest Customs. The other side features Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew, who, before meeting Christ, served as a publican - a tax collector. He is considered the patron and protector of customs officers.“Today is a landmark event for the Brest Customs. We have received the banner symbolizing God's blessing for our service and the defense of our Homeland. It is symbolic that the event took place on the sacred and heroic land of Brest Fortress. It was with the feat of its defenders that the path to the Great Victory began,” Sergei Yakuta emphasized. “The tasks facing the customs authorities are complex and require coordination, unity, and efficiency from us. The spiritual banner we have received will give us strength to accomplish them.”
Photos by Violetta Yuzhakova/BelTA
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