Metropolitan of Minsk and Zaslavsky, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Benjamin, declares that the Belarusian Orthodox Church does not need autocephaly.
He stressed that the discussion on this topic is imposed from outside.
“This topic is somewhat imposed on us from the outside, there is no such need inside, and, in general, the history of the previous century shows that when this topic was raised, then, as a rule, behind the autocephalists there was a group of people who, in one way or another, not quite well themselves showed here, at home, and, in general, this is such a church organization that was not supported, recognized at that time. “
In addition, the Metropolitan recalled that at one time, during the Second World War, the autocephaly of the Belarusian Church was imposed by the Nazi invaders and collaborators.