Participation in war commemorative events in Brest

On 24 June 2001, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in commemorative events in Brest timed to the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War. On that day, the Holy Resurrection Cathedral was opened in the city as a monument to the Victory of 1945. The cathedral was built under the patronage of the head of state. The new cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, who arrived in Brest to take part in the event. The Patriarch also performed the first liturgy in the new church. He thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko for close attention to church affairs and gave him a copy of the Vladimir Icon of Mother of God ah a gift.

The Belarusian president and the Patriarch attended the solemn commemorative ceremony “Memory” in the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex. Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that there are sites in Belarus that are sacred to the humanity, including the legendary Brest Fortress which is a symbol of courage and stoicism, strength of spirit and patriotism.

The head of state and the Patriarch also laid wreaths at a monument in the new memorial complex Border Guards and visited the St Nicholas Garrison Church in the Brest Fortress.