The out-of-town extended meeting of the Presidium of the Council of the Republic is being held in Polotsk
In Belarus, a system has developed where the secular authority and the church work together, and thanks to this cooperation, the country has become a citadel of traditional culture and morality. This opinion was expressed by the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic, Natalia Kochanova, at an off-site extended meeting of the Presidium of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, which is taking place in Polotsk.
The theme of the off-site meeting is "The Spiritual and Educational Heritage of Euphrosyne of Polotsk as a Fundamental Basis for Preserving the Traditional Values of the Belarusian People". The Chairperson of the Council of the Republic emphasized that great attention is paid to the spiritual education of the younger generation in our country. She called on the participants of the event to conduct an open and lively dialogue.
"If we lose our connection with the past, destroy the foundations on which the foundation of our society, the prosperous Belarusian home, was built, we will irretrievably lose ourselves, our independence and territorial integrity, all those great achievements won by our legendary ancestors. The Year of Improvement, declared in Belarus, is not only about civic initiatives, restoring order on the land, and restoring spiritual shrines and important historical monuments for all of us. It is also a deep self-purification, an awareness of the purpose and responsibility for the choice made by the great enlightener Euphrosyne of Polotsk, which gave rise to the formation of the traditions and values of the Belarusian people and its self-identification," said Natalia Kochanova.
Against the backdrop of the situation in Western countries, where traditional family and spiritual values are trampled upon, Belarus carefully preserves the bequests of the great saint. "Only by relying on the national spiritual and moral, historical and cultural heritage can we preserve the sovereignty of Belarus, ensure further sustainable development and prosperity of our people. Today, Belarus is a citadel of traditional culture and morality," the speaker emphasized.
"The name of the blessed is associated with the opening of the first educational institutions, the Spaso-Transfiguration Church, and the development of crafts. Almost nine centuries later, the personality of Euphrosyne of Polotsk remains a moral compass, embodying all virtues, deep love for the Motherland, and mercy," noted the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic.
Natalia Kochanova reminded that even at the stage of the formation of independent Belarus, the President identified the revival of historical and cultural heritage and national shrines as one of the priority areas for the development of the state. Monasteries and churches began to be recreated and built across the country, and historical and cultural values were restored. "This work is now yielding results. Any initiatives and projects for the preservation of holy places or teaching the foundations of spiritual and moral education in schools find support from the state and the Belarusian Orthodox Church," the speaker shared.
The Chairperson of the Council of the Republic noted that our state is a stronghold of tolerance and patience. "The stable interfaith peace in Belarus, the absence of religious conflicts, the accessibility of churches, and the freedom of worship - the country has built a configuration of state-confessional relations that is devoid of grounds for competition, discrimination, or discord. In sovereign Belarus, the issue of maintaining religious and ethnic-confessional well-being has always received the most serious attention. Being at the crossroads of two civilizations, Belarus has managed to build a peaceful, independent, and self-sufficient state for its people," said Natalia Kochanova.
Not every country in these turbulent times can reflect on peace and eternal values, but in Belarus, this topic receives close attention. Natalia Kochanova noted that the Council of the Republic has established strong friendly relations with the Belarusian Orthodox Church. "We understand that everything we do together - both the people who are vested with power and those who serve in our churches - is one matter. We must do everything to ensure peace and harmony in our country," the speaker concluded.