The Russian church replaced the leader of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Pavel. Is this a request of Lukashenko or something else? Here are my findings. THREAD: (1/8)
1. Some time ago, the Metropolitan Pavel implored Lukashenko’s regime to stop the violence. news.tut.by/society/696638…
2. Over the last 10 days, the church wasn’t really present in the political and public debates in #Belarus. The protesters didn’t ask the church to join them, neither the regime interacted openly with the church.
3. Today (25 August), during the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is presided by the Russian Patriarch Kirill and comprises the leaders of all churches, including the Belarusian one.
4. During the meeting of the Synod, the Metropolitan Pavel reported about the situation in #Belarus. He told that on 12 August and 15 August, the Belarusian Orthodox Church condemned the violence, arbitrary detentions, tortures, lies and requested the state to protect the people 
5. Moreover, the Metropolitan Pavel reminded that on August 21st the church clarified that the church is not going to support any sides, stays apolitical and demands the refraining from any form of violence.
6. It seems that the Metropolitan Pavel felt pressurized to take the side of the state rather than be politically neutral. That could be the reason why he personally requested to be dismissed (Point 6 of the Synod’s decision).
7. The Russian church is not keen at all to support Lukashenko. On contrary, it underlined the need to investigate the cases of violence, “restore the peace” in the society, and to keep the unity between the Russian Orthodox churches amid the “social-political conflicts”.
Read here the full statement of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church: patriarchia.ru/db/text/568179…
