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Lukashenka congratulates Metropolitan Pavel on his appointed as patriarchal exarch to Belarus

Alyaksandr Lukashenka has congratulated Metropolitan Pavel on his appointment as patriarchal exarch to all Belarus.

“The [Russian] Orthodox Church is the leading church in our country, which makes a considerable contribution to the preservation and strengthening of the spiritual and moral traditions of the Belarusian people,” Mr. Lukashenka says in his message of congratulations, according to the presidential press office. “There are truly partnership relations between State and Church in Belarus. An active and constructive dialogue is maintained with a view to solving major problems in society.”

“You have much experience of serving in Orthodox parishes in different countries and enjoys a high reputation among the clergy and believers,” the Belarusian leader says. “I am convinced that while holding the highest position in the Belarusian Exarchate, you will do everything possible for the preservation and development of traditions of state-church cooperation and actively contribute to the strengthening of stability, harmony and peace in Belarusian society.”

At a meeting held in Moscow on December 25, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church accepted the resignation of Metropolitan Filaret and appointed Metropolitan Pavel to succeed him as patriarchal exarch to Belarus.

Born Georgy Ponomaryov in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, on February 19, 1952 into a Russian working-class family, Metropolitan Pavel worked as a driver and locksmith before graduating from Moscow Theological Seminary in 1976. He graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy four years later.

Metropolitan Pavel served as the Russian Orthodox Church’s bishop in North America and Western Europe in the 1990s and the early 2000s. //BelaPAN