Exarch of Belarus: We pray for peace and reconciliation between nations

The Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslav appealed to the faithful of Ukraine and Russia for the speedy reconciliation. The full text of the appeal is published on the official website of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.

"The conflict on Ukrainian land did not begin yesterday, but to the last, there was still hope for its peaceful resolution. Those who stand today against each other in combat positions are often relatives in blood, faith and spirit. On both sides, soldiers are dying and civilians are suffering. We, who feel we are one family with Russians and Ukrainians, share the pain of our brothers and sisters," said Bishop Veniamin.

The Patriarch Exarch of All Belarus is convinced that only in reconciliation and an early cessation of hostilities can we seek a way out of the conflict.

"Just like in an ordinary family there can be times of trials, there can be times of contradictions and conflicts between fraternal nations which are sometimes very difficult to resolve. And the enemy of the human race is especially pleased when brother turns on brother. The Belarusian Orthodox Church urges us to take steps towards each other," the Metropolitan urged.

"Let us remember the common baptismal font, our common spiritual heritage, our saints. I urge all faithful children of our Church to pray diligently so that peace returns to the Ukrainian land, and brotherly peoples find the way to reconciliation and mutual forgiveness," Vladyka Veniamin concluded his message with these words.

As reported, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church urged Putin to stop the war.

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