Minsk, August 7, 2026
Belarusian schismatics. Photo: zn.ua
The Belarusian Orthodox Church is warning the faithful about a rise in pseudo-religious groups posing as Orthodox clergy and spreading false teachings among believers.
In an official statement from the Synodal Information Department, the Church says these groups are misrepresenting themselves as Orthodox priests, holding “services” in private homes and apartments that are decorated to look like Orthodox churches.
The statement says these groups create fake social media pages for Orthodox churches, monasteries, and clergy, where they post misleading information. They’re also producing and sharing videos containing false and often blasphemous claims about clergy and workers of the Belarusian Church.
They’re also urging parishioners to stop attending Belarusian Church parishes and instead join secret, underground “churches” that belong, in fact, to sectarian and schismatic groups.
The Church calls on believers to be careful about what they watch and share, warning that carelessness can unintentionally spread lies or contribute to blasphemous attitudes toward the Orthodox faith, its teachings, Sacraments, and holy things.
The statement urges believers not to follow Church life through social media and videos edited by unknown people, but instead to attend church in person, take part in services and Sacraments, pray personally to God, the Theotokos, and the saints, and communicate directly with clergy in churches and monasteries.
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