Lukashenko: We do not close road to temple – this is my strict requirement

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko

On April 13, 2020, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that the country's authorities do not intend to prevent believers from attending churches due to the coronavirus, reports the official website of the head of state.

Alexander Lukashenko noted that Catholics had already celebrated Easter, and though not many but people came to churches, gathered near them: “It’s up to a person. But we did not forbid a single person. If you want to go, please do it. But people took care. That is their right.”

The President of Belarus stressed that they would not block access to temples during Easter celebrations in the country: “I emphasize again: we do not close the road to the temple to anyone. This is my strict requirement. We do not forbid anyone.”

Moreover, he noted that “he who wants to pray will go to the temple. I will be in the church. This is my tradition. I rarely go, but at Christmas and Easter I am always in the church. I usually go to regions, attend these little churches.”

At the same time, he appealed to the clergy, given the current situation, not to keep people in the churches for a long time: “Put a candle, go out and be off. All sermons are better to conduct near the temple.”

In his opinion, for the consecration of Easter cakes, there should be special places in the open air: “Tables should be put where it is higher, a wind and so on. Not in the premises. Take care wherever you can. And the clergy must understand this, especially in cities.”

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to Alexander Lukashenko, if the country withstands till Orthodox Easter, then everything will be okay: “If we survive until Orthodox Easter - then we will live.”

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