State and Church Representatives meeting in Minsk discussed the problems of ‘New Spirituality’

STATE AND CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES MEETING IN MINSK DISCUSSED THE PROBLEMS OF ‘NEW SPIRITUALITY’

On 21-22 December in the capital of Byelorussia there was held a conference on ‘Traditional Spiritual Values and the Problems of ‘New Spirituality’ in the cultural and educational processes at present’. Taking part in this representative forum were Archbishop Avgustin of Lvov and Galich, Bishop Feodosy of Polotsk and Glubokoe, representatives of the bodies of state power, scholars, teachers, church and public figures. A danger of penetration of the occult and parareligiouis movements into the army, schools and the state system was given a serious appreciation. Many speakers said that the only alternative to that is the revival of Orthodoxy and the development of partnership between the Church and the state in many spheres, including education of the youth. Hieromonk Anatoly (Berestov) and Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin were among the speakers.