On the 19th Week of Pentecost, November 3, 2024, the memorial day of the Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of the Belarusian Land, celebrations were held in Minsk to mark the 35th anniversary of the formation of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the formation of the Minsk Metropolis.
The Divine Liturgy in the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Minsk was led by the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavsky, co-served by Metropolitan Matthew of Pskov and Porkhovsky, Chairman of the Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church for the Development of Pilgrimage and the Offering of Shrines, and Bishop Ambrose of Borisov and Maryinogorsk, Chairman of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
On the evening of November 2, on the eve of the celebrations, the ark with the relics of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk and the ark with the relics of St. Euphrosyne of Moscow were brought to the cathedral for the worship of the faithful. The event was the final stage of an interstate project, thanks to which honest relics were passed through many cities of Russia and Belarus. The offering of the shrines was timed to coincide with the 785th anniversary of the first Union Treaty between the Principalities of Novgorod and Polotsk and the 25th anniversary of the Union State.
After the service, Bishop Veniamin informed that on this day, services dedicated to the significant date are held in every temple and monastery of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. "We especially thank the Lord and glorify Him for the mercies and generosity shown in the past years since the formation of the Belarusian Exarchate," the bishop noted.
The Patriarchal Exarch thanked Metropolitan Matthew and all those involved in organizing the offering of the relics of the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk and Euphrosyne of Moscow.
"In September and October of this year, arks with shrines were carried through more than 35 regions of Belarus and Russia," Vladyka Matthew noted in his speech. —Hundreds of thousands of believers were able to worship the relics of saints who left a very important mark on the lives and destinies of our two states."
Metropolitan Matthew thanked the Primate of the Belarusian Orthodox Church for the invitation to the celebrations and conveyed congratulations to the faithful on significant dates on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
Alexander Rumak, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Nationalities of the Republic of Belarus, congratulated the participants of the service on the 35th anniversary of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the Minsk Metropolia on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Belarus.
In conclusion, the bishops and clergy got acquainted with the photo exhibition dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Belarusian Exarchate and the 10th anniversary of the Minsk Metropolia in the cathedral house.