The cross on which the Apostle Andrew the First-Called was crucified will be delivered to Minsk. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Belarusian Exarchate, the relic will be on display in the Apostle Andrew Church and the Church of All Saints in Minsk from 29 July to 2 August.
The cross on which the Apostle was crucified is kept at an Orthodox church in Patras, Greece, in Peloponnese. It is a holy relic for the Christian world. The cross will be brought to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev and Minsk.
In addition, members of the Synod chaired by Metropolitan Filaret took other important decisions relating to the life of the Belarusian Exarchate.
The Holy Synod established the Council for Theological Education at the Belarusian Exarchate. The main mission of the Council is to strengthen the cooperation of the Church with theological divisions of secular universities of Belarus.
According to the decision of the Holy Synod, Minsk will play host to the conference "Feat of the new martyrs and confessors of the Belarusian land" on 12 August. Attending the conference will be pilgrims from the community of the Church of Saint New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Butovo.