BELORUSSIAN
ORTHODOX
CHURCH FORBIDS ITS CLERGY TO PARTICIPATE IN PROTESTS
Interfax-Religiia,
21
August 2020
The
Belorussian
Orthodox Church [BPTs] called its clergy to refrain from
participation in
political life and called its flock not to succumb to
provocations against the
backdrop of events occurring in the country.
"We
again remind
the clergymen of the promise they gave before God not to
participate in the
political life of society, so as not to be a temptation and
cause of division
of the people," an explanation published on Friday by the
synodal
Department for Relations of Church and Society of the BPTs says.
At the
same time, it
is noted that the Orthodox church "considers it inconsistent
with its
mission to urge participation or nonparticipation in political
demonstrations,
but it decisively condemns all forms of violence, incitement of
hatred, and
intolerance toward anyone, whether physicians, police, teachers,
representatives of the government, or any other social groups."
The
document
expresses the hope that competent agencies will conduct
investigations of all
"blatant cases of the manifestation of cruelty" and it contains
a call
for the immediate restoration of peace, unity, and mutual
understanding.
Along
with this it is
mentioned that in all Orthodox churches and monasteries of
Belorussia during
the liturgies special entreaties and prayers are raised "for the
Belorussian people." The church calls all believing residents of
Belorussia and all those who are not indifferent to the future
of the republic
to pray for this.
"As
regards
participation in public life and matters of personal expression,
we ask each
person to manifest wisdom and restraint so that our faith and
trust in God and
symbols of the church will not be used by anyone as an
instrument for achieving
political or other worldly goals that are far from the high
spiritual and moral
ideals that the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, and his holy
church proclaim
to us," the statement says.
"Take
care of
yourselves and those who are dear to you and do not surrender to
provocations,
deceitful appeals, and promises, but in everything act as guided
by the
evangelical moral law and the legislation of the republic of
Belarus," the
authors of the document conclude. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 August
2020)
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