The Belarusian Orthodox diocese of Homiel marks its 90th anniversary. Metropolitan Pavel, Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus, arrived in the city to celebrate it together with the believers. A ‘carpet’ of flowers was laid under the feet of the top church official.
In addition to representatives of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, local public servants attended the celebration. Among other things, prayer for peace in Ukraine were offered up.
The fact that the Patriarch was walking along a carpet made of natural flowers caused an uproar on the Internet: a lot of Belarusians are outraged at the luxurious style of life of the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.
‘Jesus Crist was definitely humbler,’ they stress with a sad irony.
The Belarusian Orthodox Church is the official name of the Belarusian Exarchate of theRussian Orthodox Church in Belarus.
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On December, 25 Holy Synod dismissed Metropolitan Philaret (Vakhromeev) of Minsk as Metropolitan of Minsk and Patriarchal Exarch of Belarus. Metropolitan Pavel (Ponomarev) of Ryazan was appointed to this position. He had no previous connection to our country. He once shocked Belarusian media-space by saying that Russia has weapons of mass destruction and atomic bombs, and can ‘open Chernobyl tap’ in their struggle against Western enemies.
