On October 10, 2024, a seminar-meeting was held in the capital of Belarus on "The importance of Orthodox ministry in institutions of the penitentiary system for the formation of convicts' readiness to lead a law-abiding lifestyle." The event, which was attended by the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavsky, was held on the basis of the Minsk Theological Academy.
The participants of the seminar, which discussed the forms and prospects of cooperation between the state penitentiary system and the Belarusian Orthodox Church, were representatives of the leadership and employees of the departments of the organization of the correctional process of the Department, institutions of the penitentiary system and medical and labor dispensaries for the correctional process of Minsk, Minsk region and other regions of Belarus.
In his speech, Metropolitan Benjamin gave examples from the Holy Scriptures about the fruits of true repentance, about God's mercy to a repentant person, spoke in detail about the current realities of spiritual assistance, Christian spiritual care in the correction and rehabilitation of people who have violated the law and are serving sentences in places of imprisonment. The Patriarchal exarch spoke about the forms and extensive experience of cooperation between the Orthodox Church and the state in this difficult and important matter for society.