Lukashenka ignores Christianity anniversary prayer
Belarus president does not show up but congratulates Belarusian Orthodox Christians on the 1025th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus'.
Several dozen thousand people took part in the cross procession and public prayer dated for the anniversary of the Christianization.
The public prayer was organized in Minsk Zamchyshcha on Monday. Russian Patriarch Kirill and Minsk Metropolitan Filaret took part in it. Alyaksandr Lukashenka was expected there but he did not come, Radio Liberty reports.
Prayers were being said in Russian, Greek and Old Slavonic for two hours in Minsk Zamchyshcha. No Belarusian prayers were said there.
About 50 thousand pilgrims attended the ceremony the police say. According to witnesses, there were not more than 30 thousand people.
Photo: svaboda.org
