On December 24, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The state and the church are united in their aspiration for the spiritual revival and prosperity of Belarus. This was stated today at a meeting with Bishop Vladislav Blin of Vitebsk at the Church of Jesus the Merciful by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Kosinets, BELTA correspondent reports. The Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee congratulated the believers of the Roman Catholic Church on the upcoming Christmas holiday. Belarus is a multi-confessional state where an equal dialogue of religions is conducted, and this contributes to stability in society. "Although the church is separated from the state, the state and the church see their main goal in the revival of spirituality, peace and prosperity of the people of Belarus and the country as a whole," emphasized Alexander Kosinets. In the Vitebsk region, 85% of residents identify themselves as Orthodox, 10% as Catholic, and another 5% represent other religious associations. More than 70 churches operate in the region. -0-

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