MINSK, July 29 (Itar-Tass) - The Orthodox Church fills life with wisdom and love and helps preserve stability in the society, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

In his greetings message to Orthodox compatriots on the occasion of the Baptism of Rus 1025th anniversary, Lukashenko said: “The adoption of Christianity was a vital source for East Slavs and determined the development of statehood, national cultures, science and education. At all times the Church served the harbinger of hope and preached the better traditions of mercy, labor and fidelity to Motherland.”

“Today its authority and experience are in demand in the society. The Orthodox Church fills life with wisdom and love and helps preserve stability and accord on our Belarusian land,” the president said.

Lukashenko said the Baptism of Rus anniversary, which has been broadly marked in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, “allows us to deeper feel the strength of faith and the importance of interrelations of the generations and sense spiritual unity of the brotherly nations”.

“On the new stage of the development the Orthodox Church will continue its service by consolidating people and being faithful to God’s and Motherland’s duty,” Lukashenko said.