Posted:
04.03.2025 11:12:52
State will render support in sacred places creation
Aleksandr Lukashenko appointed economic team of Belarus’ Government, outlined its tasks
President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko has appointed the economic team of the Government, and Nikolai Snopkov as First Deputy Prime Minister, in particular. The economic growth in the country, including through investments, has been outlined as the main task for him and the relevant ministers.
The Head of State recalled that there was already a practice in the country when new ministers had been appointed shortly before the Presidential election, so that people understood who the future President would work with. “That’s why almost all the ministers are of the previous appointment,” he noted.
The President added that the candidacies of all appointed members of the Government had been seriously analysed. Speaking of the specifics of their work, the Head of State noted, “The peculiarity is that the deputy prime ministers will have much more weight in the Government. I would like to emphasise once again that the Prime Minister (Chairman) organises the work of the Government, conducts meetings, but in no case makes any individual decisions and does not dominate the members of the Government — primarily, the deputy prime ministers.”
The economic team — which will be personally supervised by Nikolai Snopkov — will include Economy Minister Yuri Chebotar, Minister of Antimonopoly Development and Trade Artur Karpovich, Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov, Taxes and Duties Minister Dmitry Kiyko, Minister of Communications and Informatisation Kirill Zalessky, and Chairman of the State Property Committee Dmitry Matusevich.
The President stressed, “The economic growth, which primarily envisages investment, remains the main task for this team and Nikolai Gennadievich [Snopkov] personally.” As an example of how to meet this task, the Belarusian leader mentioned the current One District — One Project initiative, “I am ready for us to see new ideas based on this initiative. Actually, investments should increase. We plan to see investment growth of about a third over the next five years.”
The Head of State also recalled the implementation of such major investment projects as the Great Stone Industrial Park, the Belarusian National Biotechnology Corporation, and the production of BELGEE passenger cars. He added that new projects are also planned.
“We definitely need to pay attention to the outflow of people from the regions. In no case should this outflow be allowed. Wage differentiation should be cut, the salaries in our regions should be about the same as in Minsk,” the President set another task.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also demanded that the norms of the Law on Entrepreneurship be fully implemented, noting that, by 2030, small and medium-sized businesses should account for about half of the economy.
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President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko met with Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus
The preparation and celebration of significant dates for the Belarusian Orthodox Church were among the main topics of the conversation. This year, the Belarusian Orthodox Church is celebrating the dates that are memorable for the entire Orthodox world: the 555th anniversary of the discovery of the miraculous Zhirovichi Icon of the Mother of God and the 505th anniversary of the Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi (solemn events are scheduled for May 20th, 2025). Another important date celebrated this year is the 900th anniversary of the founding of the St. Euphrosyne Convent in Polotsk (June 4th-5th).
Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi, Grodno Region
Not so long ago, on February 10th, the Head of State met with representatives of religious denominations, and their talk focused, in particular, on the revamping of the Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi. Aleksandr Lukashenko said then, “I would like it to be a wonderful centre of Orthodoxy. In this regard, I have a proposal (and I promise if you make a decision): we should create appropriate centres for our existing religions.” According to the President, these should be spacious sacred places accessible for believers. Aleksandr Lukashenko assured that the state will render support to other denominations as well, just like to the Orthodox Church.
During the meeting, the Head of State tackled this issue again. “It is good that we are meeting after our joint, as you say, conciliar meeting of the representatives of all churches. It is important for me to know your opinion in this regard — especially in terms of creating certain centres of our religions,” he said.
The President also announced his visit to Zhirovichi, “In the spring, which is a blooming season, we will visit Zhirovichi. Since, the Orthodox Church is the main denomination after all, which is supported by more than 80 percent of all believers in the country, everything should be worthily prepared in Zhirovichi. We shall see what else needs to be done to make it worthwhile — so that others can also see how it all needs to be done and what we want to do.”
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, thanked Aleksandr Lukashenko for the meeting and for his care of the spiritual centres in Belarus. He noted that there are two such centres in the country — in Zhirovichi and Polotsk, and they attract the attention of the whole world, not only Belarusians. Last year, the reconstruction of the Holy Assumption Cathedral in Zhirovichi was completed, and the ancient Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour of the St. Euphrosyne Convent in Polotsk has reopened after many years of restoration earlier this year.
Orthodox spiritual centres in Belarus
Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavl Veniamin,Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus
Such spiritual centres in Vitebsk and Grodno regions include the Saviour and St. Euphrosyne Convent in Polotsk and the Holy Dormition Stavropegic Monastery in Zhirovichi. “There should also be such a place of attraction in the capital. This is both the Holy Spirit Cathedral and the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. I think that the Memorial Church in Honour of All Saints should also become a spiritual centre, because not only Belarusians come to this place. Moreover, the memory of the soldiers who died for their land is perpetuated here,” the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus emphasised.
Today the Belarusian Orthodox Church has 1,669 religious communities with 1,879 clergy. There are 36 monasteries, 1 mission, 13 brotherhoods and 9 sisterhoods, 6 theological educational institutions registered in Belarus. There are 1,880 churches at the disposal of believers, and another 153 are under construction.
Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
