Meeting with Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Pavel, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus

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Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, on 11 March.

The meeting discussed the matters relating to the interaction between the State and the Belarusian Orthodox Church.

Metropolitan Pavel touched upon the issues related to the construction of a new complex of administrative buildings for the Belarusian Orthodox Church in the territory adjacent to the current building of the Minsk Diocese.

The President generally agreed with the initiative to build the new complex. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that since a decision to build such a spiritual center has been taken, the project must be proper and consistent with its purpose. There are plans to set up a Church Board of Trustees to oversee the project.

Given that construction will take time, the Belarusian Orthodox Church has been suggested to use one of the complexes in the Belarusian capital for large events. “There are enough venues in Minsk,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.  

“There are also other issues that I would like to discuss. Let us think in which direction we are going to move,” the head of state said.

The parties also talked over the planned meeting of the President of Belarus with members of the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.