On the eve of Christmas, Archbishop Dmitry of Vitebsk and Orsha met with journalists

The head of the diocese spoke about the main events of 2015, which was marked by the 1000th anniversary of the repose of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Prince Vladimir, the Baptizer of Rus'. The Archbishop emphasized that the life of the church is developing, and spiritual values are multiplying. The achievements of the year include the revival of the Tolochin Monastery and the construction of churches in Vitebsk and Orsha.

– The project for the St. Sophia Cathedral, which will be built in the regional center by analogy with the ancient shrine in Polotsk, has passed expert review. It is planned that the foundation stone will be consecrated by the Patriarch during the "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" festival in the presence of distinguished guests who are expected at the jubilee festival, – noted the head of the diocese.

Active work is underway on the construction of the Church of St. Matrona of Moscow in Bilevo. It began in November 2015, and it is planned to be completed by the end of the current year. Funds for the church were raised by parishioners of the Belarusian Exarchate's representation in Moscow.

In Vorony, a community of sisters of mercy is being established at the church of the Falkovich Icon of the Mother of God. They will assist in caring for the elderly and disabled. In the future, a residential building for those in need of care will be built here.

This year, the educational institution for training clergy will celebrate two jubilee dates: 210 years since the founding of the Belarusian Theological Seminary in Polotsk and 140 years since its transfer to the provincial city of Vitebsk. Another significant event for the entire Orthodox Church is the 1000th anniversary of Russian presence on Mount Athos. Representatives of the Vitebsk Diocese will also participate in the celebrations.

The secretary of the Vitebsk Diocesan Administration, Archpriest Vladimir Rezanovich, and the first vice-rector of the Theological Seminary, Archpriest Konstantin Izofatov, also answered journalists' questions.

Among the most important events of 2015, they highlighted the Christmas Readings, the largest in the history of the Vitebsk Diocese, which gathered over 400 people, and the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vitebsk and Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminaries.

On the eve of the press conference, a reporting meeting of the clergy and laity of the Vitebsk diocese was held, at which an appeal to Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl on the division of the Vitebsk diocese into Vitebsk and Orsha was adopted.

At the end of the meeting, Archbishop Dmitry congratulated everyone on the upcoming feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Tatyana Pasternak. Photos by Dmitry Osipov. "Vitebskiye Vesti".