By Natalia Bordilovskaya: Since 1981, priest Pavel (born Georgy V. Ponomarev) has been representing and preaching Eastern Orthodox Christianity in the U.S. and Canada, Austria and Hungary. For the last ten years his activities have been associated with the Ryazan archdiocese. Metropolitan Pavel met his Belarusian predecessor, Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, in Jerusalem during his first spiritual mission.
In the near future, the Orthodox congregation will welcome the two Metropolitans - Pavel and Filaret. The latter has retained the right to participate in the work of the Holy Synod, religious services and official ceremonies.
By the way, six months ago, Metropolitan Pavel of Ryazan and Mikhailov visited Minsk as a member of the international conference dedicated to the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia.
The newly appointed Metropolitan was congratulated by President Alexander Lukashenko.
Orthodox Belarusians will celebrate Christmas under the new Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus Pavel, who will hold a Christmas liturgy at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk.













