Aleksandr Lukashenko lights Easter candle at church in Shklov District

The Belarusian leader traditionally lit an Easter candle in the church and spoke with parishioners and clergy.

“I am happy to see your kind and, as always, smiling eyes. It’s pleasant to visit such a church. To be honest, these are my favorite churches, churches that are built plain and simple, no showiness, especially the wooden ones,” the head of state said.

“My task is to come to you, to this church, this holy place, and to do what I love most - to light a candle. That is the thing I love most when I come to church. Together with you, I have done that,” he added.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that on Easter, he typically visits small village churches. When it came time to decide where to go, the President chose Yevdokimovichi without any hesitation. “Many years ago, I visited this place more than once. I remember there was a farm somewhere around here. I remember every kilometer of the road. Especially since I used to work with you. I remember the head of your farm, Aleksandr Popkov, with whom I also worked back in Minsk,” the head of state recalled.

He admitted that trips to familiar places always bring back many fond memories of times past, even though they were not easy: “It was very hard. But it has always been and will always be hard. Such is our life, granted to us by the Lord God, so that we do not become rigid, so that we keep moving.”