Greetings to the participants of the International Scientific Conference “Orthodoxy in the Historical Destinies of the Slavic Peoples”translated

Greetings from the Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Your Eminence, dear Vladika John! Dear organizers, participants and guests of the conference!

I cordially welcome all of you who have gathered in the ancient city of Brest to participate in the International Scientific Conference “Orthodoxy in the Historical Destinies of the Slavic Peoples.” I extend special words of gratitude to you, Vladyka John, as the Diocesan Bishop of the Brest See, through whose care and blessing this important scientific forum today welcomes guests and researchers.

The current scientific conference is timed to coincide with a deeply significant and fateful date - the 430th anniversary of the Orthodox Brest Church Council. This event, which took place at the end of the 16th century, continues to attract close attention from researchers to this day and remains at the center of scientific discussions. The Brest tragedy, which then divided the metropolis and the Belarusian-Ukrainian people into Orthodox and Uniates, forever remained in historical memory as evidence of the difficult trials that befell our Church. But it was precisely during the years of these trials that the steadfastness of the Orthodox in their fidelity manifested itself with particular force...