In memoriam Metropolitan Philaret (Varkhomeev)

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity joins in prayer with the Belarusian Orthodox Church on the death on 12 January 2021 at the age of 85 of His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret (Varkhomeev), Emeritus Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.

President of the Department for External Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate from 1981 to 1989, His Eminence contributed to developing relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church.

From 1990 to 2013 he guided the Belarusian Orthodox Church, committing himself to the spiritual rebirth of the Belarusian people, as well as to consolidating good relations among Christians in his country.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, sent a letter of condolence to His Eminence Veniamin, Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsk, current Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus.