Catholics ask Orthodox leader to help them return church building

December 30, BPN. The parish of Saints Simon and Helena has asked the Russian Orthodox leader in Belarus, Metropolitan Vienijamin, to petition Alaksandr Łukašenka for the return of the Red Church to the Roman Catholic community.

“We dare to address you, dear Vladyko [Ruler], to ask for your help in returning our church, which for unknown reasons has been closed and sealed for three months,” the letter reads, as found on the parish website. “The congregation of thousands was left without a church of God. We have repeatedly written and verbally appealed to many authorities, but have received only formal answers from many.”

“Every year at Christmas we watch a Christmas broadcast from your cathedral, visited by the head of state. We ask you, Vladyko, to put in a good word for the church and its return to Minsk’s believers, to tell about this appalling situation that the city authorities failed to report to the president,” the parish wrote.

The church building is controlled by the city government. The authorities shut it down after a fire in September, citing the need for repairs.

On December 28, the Chryścijanskaja Vizija advocacy group reported that services in the Red Church may resume soon. Quoting its own sources, it said the authorities had secured payment of the clergy’s debts to the landlord. The dismissal of influential priest Uładzisłaŭ Zavalniuk as parish rector is reportedly one of the conditions for the reopening of the church.