The state places great hopes on the church in the patriotic education of youth - A. Lukashenko

April 14, Minsk / Alina Grishkevich - BELTA /. The state places great hopes on the church in the patriotic education of youth. This was stated today by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting with members of the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, according to a BELTA correspondent. "For me, communication with you, the spiritual leaders of the country's largest denomination, is important, first and foremost, as an effective form of direct dialogue between the state and the Church, a search for new points of contact and forms of cooperation in solving pressing contemporary problems," Alexander Lukashenko noted. In his opinion, Orthodoxy has played an outstanding role in the fate of the Belarusian people, the formation of our statehood and the development of culture. "Therefore, today we place great hopes on the Church in the patriotic education of youth," the head of state said. The President believes that the creation of the national memorial - the Church-Monument in honor of All Saints in Minsk - has become a good initiative in this responsible and large-scale work. May this project inspire clergy who wish to contribute to the preservation of historical memory, Alexander Lukashenko said. "Strengthening family traditions, combating alcoholism, drug addiction, immoral behavior, moral education - this is also the sphere of the Church's concern and the field where the work of the clergy should bear good fruit," the head of state emphasized. -0-