Church Continues to Meet Despite Fine

 Brest, Belarus
Brest, Belarus
Members of an unregistered Pentecostal church in the town of Kobrin near Brest in south western Belarus have pledged to continue meeting for worship despite a fine levied against their pastor, Nikolai Rodkovich, according to a December 12 report from Forum 18.

Under Belarus' harsh religion law, any unregistered religious activity is illegal. According to his wife, Tamara, Rodkovich was told on November 23 to appear before the local administration, where they tried to persuade him to register his church. When he refused, he was fined 50,000 rubles (about $30.00 Cdn). He was given ten days to pay the fine or it would be deducted from his pay. This church has been in existence since 1952 and has around three hundred members.

Many churches in the former Soviet republics refuse to register, in part because of concerns about government interference as experienced under Soviet rule. Continue to pray for this church in Kobrin and other churches throughout Belarus facing persecution for their faith.

For more information on the persecution in Belarus, click here.

Select a Region

Belarus News

  • Exiled Religious Advocates Face Charges
    Natallia Vasilevich is standing in front of a building.
    Natallia Vasilevich
    Photo: Ivars Kupcis / WCC

    Criminal charges have been brought against at least two religious freedom advocates currently living outside the country of Belarus. Both individuals have been added to Russia's federal list of wanted persons, meaning they could risk deportation to Belarus if found residing within countries that maintain close ties with the Russian Federation (such as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan or Uzbekistan). When inquiries were made regarding the specific charges against the two believers, Belarusian authorities provided no details.

    Read more...

  • Supreme Court Denies Churches Legal Status
    People are gathered at the door of a building in a Greek Catholic parish.
    A Greek Catholic Parish.
    Photo: Katolik.life

    Churches in Belarus continue to encounter increasing pressures under a new religion law that came into effect in July 2024. The legislation requires all churches to undergo re-registration, including those that had previously been approved by the government. As a result, three Greek Catholic parishes that were originally registered in the 1990s have had their applications rejected.

    Read more...

  • Another Church Leader Arrested
    The priest Anatol Parakhnevich is raising a communion cup.
    Father Anatol Parakhnevich
    Photo: Katolik.life
     

    On March 16th, masked security officials arrested Anatol Parakhnevich, a 65-year-old Catholic priest, at his parish in Alkovichi, Minsk Region. During the arrest, officers searched his home as well as the church building. Following the raid, both premises were sealed, with the keys being returned one week later.

    Read more...

  • Priests Pardoned by the Nation's Presidential Leader
    Father Henryk Akalotovich and Father Andrzej Yuchniewicz are standing with Archbishop Ignazio Ceffalia and Archbishop Iosif Stanevsky.
    Father Henryk (second from left) and Father Andrei
    (second from right), along with two archbishops.
    Photo: Catholic.by

    Two Catholic priests who had been convicted and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison were pardoned and freed from a Belarusian labour camp on November 20th. State media claimed that the church leaders, who were granted clemency by President Alexander Lukashenko, had been "convicted of serious crimes against the state, as well as other crimes."

    Read more...

View All