On August 5, 2026, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, visited the Administration of the Belarusian Railway and met with the mainline staff. The visit was timed to coincide with a professional holiday, Railway Worker's Day, which was celebrated on August 2.
Opening the meeting, Valery Verenich, Head of the Belarusian Railway, noted the high importance of preserving spiritual and national traditions, which have always been the basis of the creative activity of railway workers: "Dear Vladyka! You have blessed our intentions to create a patron saint icon. An image historically associated with generations of railway workers has been identified. The workers of the steel highway will be protected by the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. Its placement at the Minsk-Passazhirsky railway station will be a sign of respect for historical roots and a symbol of blessing for a good journey for millions of passengers."
Addressing the audience, Metropolitan Veniamin congratulated the railway workers on their professional holiday and thanked them for their service to the people. The bishop noted the special connection between the Church and the railway. He said that some of the clergy worked on the highway at one time and warmly recall this period. The archpastor also recalled that at the end of the 19th century, a Station (railway) church was built in Minsk in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The money for its creation was collected by the employees themselves. Such temples also existed in Gomel, Orsha and Osipovichi.
"I am glad that after decades the lost spiritual continuity is being revived, this good tradition is being restored and steps are being taken to implement our new joint plans. It is no coincidence that the icon of the Kazan Mother of God became the spiritual patroness of the Belarusian Railway. The Mother of God protects everyone who goes on the road or returns home," said Vladyka.
The Patriarchal Exarch presented the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God to the staff of the Belarusian Railway Administration.
An important part of the meeting was the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement between the Belarusian Orthodox Church (the Belarusian Exarchate of the Moscow Patriarchate) and the Belarusian Railway. The agreement is aimed at developing cooperation in the field of spiritual and moral education, charitable and socially significant activities, and strengthening traditional values in the labor collectives of the highway.
Then the railroad workers were able to ask the Patriarchal Exarch their questions concerning moral guidelines and the role of the Church in the life of modern society.
In conclusion, the head of the Belarusian Railway, Valery Verenich, on behalf of the entire team, thanked Metropolitan Veniamin for the meeting and presented him with a memorable souvenir.