On November 3, 2024, in the Week of the 19th Pentecost, the day of commemoration of the Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Land of Belarus, celebrations were held in Minsk to mark the 35th anniversary of the formation of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Minsk Metropolitanate.
The Divine Liturgy at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk was led by Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, accompanied by Metropolitan Matthew of Pskov and Porkhov, Chairman of Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church for the Development of Pilgrimage and the Bringing of Shrines, and Bishop Amvrosy of Borisov and Maryinogorsk, chairman of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
Bishop Amvrosy, chairman of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
In the evening of November 2, on the eve of the celebrations, the ark with the relics of the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk and the ark with the relics of the Venerable Euphrosyne of Moscow were brought to the cathedral for the adoration of the faithful. The event was the final stage of the interstate project, thanks to which the honest relics traveled to many cities in Russia and Belarus. The bringing of the relics was timed to coincide with the 785th anniversary of the first Union Treaty between the Principalities of Novgorod and Polotsk and the 25th anniversary of the Union State.
At the Liturgy, the bishops were served by: the Rector of the Minsk Theological Academy Archimandrite Athanasius (Sokolov); Archpriest Georgy Latushko, rector of the 1st Minsk city district, rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Minsk; Archpriest Nikolai Korchin, rector of the Church of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky in Minsk. Minsk Archpriest Nikolai Korzhich; chairman of the Synodal Department of the Belarusian Orthodox Church for Cooperation with the Cossacks and the Synodal Department of the Belarusian Orthodox Church for Church Architecture and Restoration, dean of churches of the 2nd Minsk city district, rector of the church of the icon of the Mother of God «Joy of All Who Sorrow» Minsk Archpriest Igor Korostelev; clergyman of the Elisavetinsky Monastery in Minsk Archpriest Andrei Lerostelev. Archpriest Andrei Lemeshonok; Archpriest Alexander Strekha, dean of the 5th Minsk city district, rector of the Church of Great Martyr George the Victorious, Minsk; Archpriest Alexander Strekha, chairman of the Synodal Department of the Belarusian Orthodox Church for Cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and Other Military Formations, rector of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. Archpriest Sergius Kuzmenkov, chairman of the Synodal Pilgrimage Department, dean of the 7th Minsk City District, rector of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Minsk, Archpriest Alexander Shiriton; Archpriest Victor Vasilevich, rector of the Minsk Theological Seminary; Archpriest Andrei Volkov, executive secretary of the Department of Affairs of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, secretary of the Minsk Eparchy Archpriest Andrei Volkov; Secretary of Borisov Eparchy Archpriest Sergius Bashkirov; Secretary of Molodechno Eparchy Archpriest Vitaly Bogdanenok; Acting.Acting Chairman of the Synodal Information Department of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, rector of the Church of St. Spiridon of Trimiphunte in Minsk, Priest Alexander Palchevsky and clerics of the dioceses of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
Alexander Rumak, Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Dmitry Mezentsev, State Secretary of the Union State, and representatives of the Charitable Foundation named after Prince Vladimir, with the assistance of which the relics were brought, Abbess of the Polotsk Spaso-Euphrosynievsky nunnery, Abbess Evdokia (Levshuk) with her sisters and other honored guests.
The liturgical chants were performed by the Archdiocesan Choir of St. Dukhov Cathedral under the direction of Vitaly Sobolevsky. The broadcast was carried out on the YouTube-channel of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. Archpriest Andrei Volkov delivered a sermon before the communion.
At the end of the Liturgy there was a glorification of the Most Holy Mother of God.
After the service, Vladyka Veniamin said that on this day in every church and every monastery of the Belarusian Orthodox Church services dedicated to the significant date are celebrated. We thank the Lord, praise Him for His mercies and bounties, revealed in the past years since the formation of the Belarusian Exarchate, « — noted the bishop.
The Patriarchal Exarch thanked Metropolitan Matthew and all those involved in the organization of bringing the relics of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk and St. Euphrosyne of Moscow.
«In September and October of this year the arks with the relics were carried through more than 35 regions of Belarus and Russia, — noted in his speech Vladyka Matthew. — The relics of the saints, who left a very important trace in the lives and destinies of our two states, were able to worship Hundreds of thousands of believers».
Metropolitan Matthew thanked the Primate of the Belarusian Orthodox Church for the invitation to the celebrations and conveyed to the faithful congratulations on the significant dates on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Alexander Rumak, Commissioner for Religious and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, congratulated the participants of the divine service on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Belarus on the 35th anniversary of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the Minsk Metropolitanate.
The participants of the divine service were congratulated on the 35th anniversary of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the Minsk Metropolitanate.
Further, in consideration of hard work for the glory of the Mother Church, Metropolitan Veniamin awarded Archpriest Georgy Latushko with the Order of the Cross of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, and Ivan Fomchenko, Deputy Chairman of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir Charitable Foundation, with the Order of St. Cyril of Turov, II degree.
Metropolitan Veniamin also awarded Archpriest Georgy Latushko with the Order of the Cross of St. Cyril of Turov, II degree.
Finally, the bishops and clergy familiarized themselves in the cathedral house with the photo exhibition dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the formation of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the Minsk Metropolitanate.
At the end of the ceremony, the bishops and clergy familiarized themselves with the photo exhibition dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the Minsk Metropolitanate.
Official website of the BOC/Patriarchy.ru
