Enhancing Slavic unity: Moscow Patriarch to visit Belarus in memory of Nazi attack on USSR
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill will visit Belarus on June 20-22 on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Victory over Nazi Germany and the anniversary of the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union.
“With a special feeling I am visiting Brest on June 22, I hope I say the Divine Liturgy on the day of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War,” the Patriarch said at a meeting with Igor Petrishenko, Ambassador of Belarus to Russia, interfax.by reports with reference to the website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The Ambassador conveyed congratulations from Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. “I know that he has a special relationship with you and with the Russian Orthodox Church. You enjoy authority and respect with the Belarusian nation. And we hope that your visit will give a strong sighn for further uniting our people, our Slavic brotherhood, so that we could overcome rigours of life, stay out and preserve a clean and sincere Orthodox soul,” patriarchia.ru quotes Petrishenko.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, may come to Belarus as a spiritual leader only if the Orthodox Church appoves the idea of his visit.
Read also: Pope’s visit to Belarus: God willing, it will happen
