The youngest bishop is in the Vitebsk region

The main Catholic church of the region could not accommodate everyone who wished to attend the significant event: priests, believers, diplomats, and representatives of secular authorities. The main consecrator was the Apostolic Nuncio to Belarus, Archbishop Claudio Gutterozi, assisted by the head of the Catholic Church in our country, Metropolitan Archbishop of Minsk-Mogilev Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, and Bishop of Grodno Alexander Kashkevich.

Attendees were reminded of the main stages of the bishop-nominee's biography, who was born in 1972 in Braslav, graduated from the Belarusian State Agrarian Technical University and the Higher Theological Seminary, served as a vicar in Novopolotsk and Miory, and was a parish priest in Beshenkovichi and Ula. Since 2003, Father Oleg managed the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Vitebsk, which became a true refuge for people who found themselves in critical situations for various reasons.

Father Franciszek Kisiel, who served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Vitebsk Diocese after the resignation of Bishop Vladislav Blin due to health reasons, expressed gratitude to Pope Francis on behalf of all believers and priests for this correct choice.

Archbishop Claudio Gutterozi, in his speech, focused on the great responsibility that has fallen upon this still, in principle, young man, and also thanked Bishop Oleg's mother, present in the hall, for raising such a worthy son, who was destined by fate to proclaim the teachings of Christ, "gave him life, milk, language, and culture". It is very important, the Vatican envoy emphasized once again, that he is a native of Belarusian land.

In accordance with liturgical norms, the new head of the Vitebsk Diocese took the oath, and then the consecration ceremony took place through the laying of hands on his head by all the bishops present.

The newly elected bishop received congratulations from the present representatives of the Orthodox Archbishop of Vitebsk and Orsha, Dmitry, as well as from Governor Alexander Kosinets, whose words were read by the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Vladimir Terentyev. In his congratulatory address, the head of the region noted that the Catholic Church makes a significant contribution to the preservation and enrichment of the spiritual and moral traditions of the Dvina region. The Roman Catholic Church unites 93 parishes in the region, has 79 places of worship, 3 monasteries, and 5 churches are under repair and reconstruction. Truly partnership relations have been established between the authorities and the Vitebsk Diocese. Alexander Nikolaevich expressed confidence that the spiritual treasure, practical experience, and knowledge of the new bishop will contribute to the active and harmonious development of the diocese, the strengthening of its authority in the country, and the dissemination of the eternal values of Christianity.

The new Bishop of Vitebsk, according to tradition, chose a coat of arms for himself. In it, he placed the icon of Our Lady of Braslav along with the image of the heraldic symbol of the regional center – Jesus Christ and words from the prayer "Our Father": "Thy will be done".

Ales Bynko

, "Vitebskiye Vesti"