Lukashenko at the opening of the monument to Metropolitan Filaret: he was the spiritual father and conscience of the nation

A monument to Metropolitan Filaret has been unveiled in Minsk near the Holy Spirit Cathedral. As stated by Head of State Alexander Lukashenko during the ceremony, the first Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus was not only a spiritual father but also the conscience of the nation, reports a BELTA correspondent.

Proposals to erect a monument to Metropolitan Filaret were submitted to the President in May 2021, and Alexander Lukashenko supported them. The monument was created by a team of authors led by sculptor Andrei Khotyanovsky.

It was decided to unveil the monument on the day of a significant Christian holiday - Radunitsa, a day when it is customary to commemorate dear ones. Clergy, citizens, and guests of the capital attended the ceremony.

The Head of State laid the bishop's favourite flowers - white roses - at the monument.

"We have unveiled a monument to the first Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, our Metropolitan Filaret. Our, without exaggeration, great contemporary, Hero of Belarus, a person who was not only a spiritual father but also the conscience of the nation," stated Alexander Lukashenko.

During his brief speech, the President repeatedly referred to the words of Metropolitan Filaret. "He always said: 'Where you serve, that is your homeland.' And he proved with his entire life that his destiny, his Fatherland, was our Belarus. And we were his great beloved family," emphasised the Belarusian leader.

Metropolitan Filaret dedicated much effort to the revival of churches, parishes, and monasteries, and the development of theological education. It was by his blessing that the Holy Scripture was translated into the Belarusian language, a holiday in honour of the Council of Belarusian Saints was established, Belarus's sacred relic - the Cross of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk - was recreated, and a unique social project of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, the House of Mercy, began to function.

"From all-Union, international platforms, as well as from the pages of periodicals, he spoke with piercing sharpness about the fact that the price paid by the Soviet people for victory in the Great Patriotic War was too high, and therefore peace is the greatest blessing for us," the President noted. "I am convinced that now, in heaven alongside the holy patrons of Belarus, he is praying for peace and harmony on our beautiful land."

Alexander Lukashenko mentioned another message from the clergyman. These words, which the head of state called a spiritual testament, were spoken by the metropolitan in the difficult month of August 2020 for Belarus. "The current task and duty of the nation is to preserve peace and harmony on our native land. This is our responsibility before God and before our descendants," the bishop emphasized at the time.

It is no secret that the head of state had a special relationship with the Patriarchal Exarch. For Alexander Lukashenko, Metropolitan Filaret was a spiritual mentor and a good friend. They met not only during official events. It is known that the President repeatedly visited the bishop even after he handed over his post to Metropolitan Pavel.

After the bishop's death, Alexander Lukashenko attended the farewell ceremony and subsequently repeatedly recalled the metropolitan in his speeches.

"More than a year has passed since the bishop left us. But it is still difficult to speak of him in the past tense. We miss his voice, his unfailing kindness, his subtle humour, his wise fatherly advice, and his prayerful help," admitted Alexander Lukashenko.

The Orthodox church figure passed away in his 86th year of life. During the unveiling of the monument, dozens of white doves were released into the sky of the Belarusian capital, corresponding to the number of years of the metropolitan's life.

After the official part of the event, the President and Metropolitan Veniamin visited the church, where they lit candles at the Crucifixion. The bishop presented the head of state with an icon from Metropolitan Filaret's personal collection as a memento.

"Our main task is for the work of Bishop Metropolitan Filaret to continue and expand," said Metropolitan Veniamin.

Source: belta.by