Vladimir Terentyev congratulated the Bishop of Vitebsk Oleg Butkevich and, in his person, all believers of the Catholic confession on the Easter holiday.
Vladimir Vladimirovich watched the live broadcast of the festive Easter liturgy on local television the day before and was very pleased that many families with preschool and school-aged children came to the church:
-- The Church does a lot for the spiritual education of people. In the Year of Small Motherland, we also always emphasize and cite as an example the beauty created around the churches. This comes from the soul, from the heart, and is nurtured from childhood, with mother's milk.
Bishop of the Vitebsk Diocese Oleg Butkevich thanked the guests, Chairman of the Regional Council of Deputies Vladimir Terentyev and Advisor to the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Mikhail Danilenko, for their congratulations.
-- The Catholic Church is a part of our society, -- said the bishop. -- It is gratifying that the state authorities treat the Catholic faith and believers who celebrate Easter today, a holiday that opens the way to eternal life for a person, with respect. We are grateful that the church has its place in our society, and we contribute to its construction and the education of all people on the principles of Christianity.
By the way, this year the Vitebsk Diocese celebrates its twentieth anniversary. This is already a period of time, noted Oleg Butkevich, which allows us to assess certain achievements and the work on the restoration of churches in our territory. Previously, there was only one church in Vitebsk, and now there are already five parishes and four shrines. Many people, children and young people come to the churches, who are learning the faith, which has a good effect on both their personal lives and society as a whole.