23 August 2020, 11:47 | TUT.BY
Belarusian radio’s first national channel refused a live broadcast of Sunday holy mass at the Archcathedral of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Minsk, according to cathedral spokespersons who spoke to Interfax-West.
“We received a refusal to broadcast live on election day. We were only granted a recording. And today we were told flat out: ‘There won’t be any broadcast, that’s all,’” said spokespeople for the Archcathedral.
Live broadcasts of worship services at Minsk’s Archcathedral of the Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary have aired weekly on Sunday mornings.
“Jesus was the greatest politician. He spoke the truth. We have to speak the truth. Against violence. Nothing special was planned, just the reading of the Gospels; that’s it,” cathedral representatives said regarding the holy mass that was denied live broadcast.
It was not long ago that Aleksander Lukashenko advised the clergy to “mind [their] own business.”
“I am surprised by the position of our religious denominations. My dear clergy, settle down and mind your own business. People should come to churches to pray! Churches are not for politics. People should go there to answer the call of the soul, as it has always been,” Lukashenko said. “Don’t follow the lead of the misfits. Later, you’ll be ashamed of the views that some of you currently hold. And the state will not ignore this.”
Previously, Metropolitan Pavel of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch for all of Belarus, called on Aleksander Lukashenko to stop the violence. On Wednesday, 19 August, Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz went to the Akrescina Detention Center. He prayed outside its walls and talked with volunteers and former detainees. On 21 August, Minister of Internal Affairs Yury Karayeu met with Archbishop Kondrusiewicz to discuss current events.
