EXARCH
OF BELARUS
SPEAKS FOR UNION WITH RUSSIA, AGAINST AUTOCEPHALY AND
BELARUSIZATION OF CHURCH
The new
patriarchal
exarch of all Belarus of the RPTs [Russian Orthodox Church],
Metropolitan
Veniamin, made a number of "programmatic" statements in an
interview
with the propaganda channel "Russia Today." This was reported by
the
portal Credo.Press.
The
metropolitan
spoke out against "belarusization" and autocephaly of the
Belorussian
church and against its "participation in politics," and he urged
leaving to God's judgment those who beat unarmed protesters in
Minsk, humbly
awaiting the proclamation of a new constitution and new
elections of the
president of the country.
"The
church's
position should be neutral," Veniamin said, in commenting on
violence
against peaceful residents and the falsification of the
president's election.
"The church should be a place of meeting for people of different
worldviews, different political views, educational levels,
interests, and so
forth,"
Moreover
he made it
clear that the emotions of protesters are connected with their
sinfulness: when
"some feelings within the heart not only come out and harm other
people,
they harm the person himself and are why the heart hurts and
other problems
arise."
The
metropolitan
called the topic of autocephaly "alien" for the Belorussian
Church.
"This is being mentioned, but it is being mentioned more by
secular
people, who also want by means of this to advance some kind of
their own ideas,
desires, and so forth. But there is absolutely no need for this
now." He
urged "maintaining vigilance and avoiding any attempts to
present this
topic in one format or another."
Metropolitan
Veniamin
touched on the topic of the responsibility of law enforcement
personnel who
committed viciousness against peaceful protesters, and he
effectively urged not
taking them to earthly judgment. "One must realize," he said,
"that besides the human community of people there will also be
judgment by
God, who will give people rewards for good deeds and punishment
for evil deeds,
and even for those actions, thoughts, and feelings that are
invisible to other
people and which, perhaps, a person is unaware of himself. . . .
In
reconciliation, the main things should be the possibility of
forgiving,
overcoming the offense, and not remembering it any more. It is
impossible to
weigh everything on the scale of human justice in all details,
who is more
right and who less, and this can become a new occasion for
disputes and for
further disagreements."
Despite
his
statements about being nonpolitical, the metropolitan made clear
that he
expects the unification of the Russian Federation, Belarus, and
Ukraine in a
single state. "There is a prophecy about the fact that
nevertheless the
three fraternal peoples will later be together. We will pray for
this and we
will strive for this," he said. (tr. by PDS, posted 15 September
2020)
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