Metropolitan Panteleimon and Bishop Venedikt at a formal meeting, agreed to: a) to the management and execution of the conditions to be presented in a letter to the General Commissariat of Belarus; b) to move the residence of the Metropolitan from the Zhirovitsky Monastery to Minsk, the capital of Byelorussia; c) to open a seminary for the training of candidates to the priesthood; d) to give Metropolitan Panteleimon the title of: “Metropolitan of Minsk and All Byelorussia.” The Minutes of this meeting were entitled “Act number 1, Acts of the Council of Bishops of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, October 6, 1941.” The protocol was signed by Metropolitan Panteleimon and Bishop Venedikt of Brest. For the first time in the history of the Byelorussian Orthodox Church, it was officially, in an Act of the Orthodox Hierarchy, designated as “Byelorussian.” According to the content of the Minutes, a reply was sent by letter to the General Commissariat.” [1]op. cit. 56
The Byelorussian nationalists in the occupation authority did not trust Metropolitan Panteleimon. In their opinion, he was a strict adherent of “Russian Monarchist ideals,” and looked for a way to circumvene his authority. They knew that both Vladika Metropolitan Panteleimon and Bishop Venedikt felt it necessary to have more Hierarchs to direct the Church in Byelorussia. They had already “recommended” that all future Hierarchs be of Byelorussian nationality, and saw the consecration of new Bishops as a way to better control the Church. They could not have been more greatly mistaken. Two candidates were suggested by Byelorussian nationalists in Warsaw, both Archimandrites serving in the Polish Orthodox Church: Filofei (Narko), who had been serving in Warsaw under Metropolitan Dionisy of Warsaw, and Afanassy (Martos), who had served in the Kholm Diocese of the Polish Church. [2]op. cit. 56
Archimandrite Filofei was consecrated as Bishop of Slutsk, Vicar to the Metropolitan, on 23 Nov 1941 at the Zhirovitsky Monastery by Metropolitan Panteleimon and Bishop Venedikt. The Byelorussian nationalists began making demands of the Church, such as the dismissal of all Russian clergy in favor of Byelorussians. Their demands were purely political; they had no understanding of the Church, and did not care to. They had only their nationalist agenda to “guide” them. They even attempted to have Metropolitan Panteleimon removed in favor of Bishop Filofei by appealing to the German occupation authorities. This decision was delayed, as the removal of the Metropolitan could only be accomplished by a Hierarchical Council, as the statute of the Church then in place were those required by the German occupation authorities. [3]op. cit. 56
A Hierarchical Council was called by Metropolitan Panteleimon, attended by the Metropolitan, Bishop Venedikt, Bishop Filofei, and Archimandrite Afanassy, who as a candidate for the episcopate had an advisory vote. The Council began on 03 Mar 1942. The Bishops had to agree on an augmented statute of the Church, which had been prepared by Archimandrite Afanassy at the request of Metropolitan Panteleimon. Six diocese were to be created, and the Bishop of each named: Minsk, to be headed by Metropolitan Panteleimon, “of Minsk & All Byelorussia, Archimandrite of Zhirovitsky Holy Dormition Monastery,” who was officially elevated to Metropolitan at this Council; Grodno, headed by Bishop Venedikt “of Grodno & Bialystok;” Mogilev, headed by Bishop Filofei “of Mogilev & Mstislavl;” Vitebsk, headed by Archimandrite Afanassy, to be consecrated as Bishop “of Vitebsk & Polotsk;” Novogrudok, to be headed by Bishop Veniamin (Novitski), then in retirement at the Pochaev Lavra, with the title “of Novogrudok & Baranovichi;” and Smolensk, to be headed by Father Simeon Sevbo, who, after tonsure would be consecrated as Bishop “of Smolensk and Bryansk.” The Synod of Bishops would be led by Metropolitan Panteleimon, and include Bishop Venedikt and Bishop Filofei. Other business was conducted: Archimandrite Afanassy would administer the Novogrudok Diocese until Bishop Veniamin arrived there; Afanassy’s consecration was scheduled on 08 Mar 1942. Decisions were made about education of future clergy, publishing religious literature and a Church periodical, Church seals for the parishes, and Bishop Filofei was elected as Metropolitan Panteleimon”s Deputy, and was to reside in Minsk. The decision about Autocephaly for the Byelorussian Church, which had been demanded by the Byelorussian nationalists, was tabled until the conclusion of the war, and the clarification of the political situation in Byelorussia at that time. At the end of the Council, Bishop Venedikt and Bishop Filofei were both elevated to Archbishop; Bishop Venedikt at the request of Metropolitan Panteleimon, and Bishop Filofei at the request of the Byelorussian nationalists. [4]op. cit. 56
Father Simeon Sevbo was supposed to be consecrated on 15 Mar 1942, but due to an illness, Metropolitan Panteleimon could not serve. He would not give his consent for Archbishop Filofei and Bishop Afanassy to perform the consecration themselves. Metropolitan Panteleimon then demanded that Archbishop Filofei and Bishop Afanassy to leave Minsk for their Dioceses. It was learned that Metropolitan Panteleimon had hoped to have Father Simeon Sevbo, after his consecration, assist him with the Minsk Diocese. The Byelorussian nationalists, learning of this, were outraged, and went to the German occupation authorities, who ordered Metropolitan Panteleimon to consecrate Father Simeon forthwith, and send him to Smolensk. Apparently, there was a misunderstanding on the part of Metropolitan Panteleimon concerning Archbishop Filofei, Bishop Afanassy, and the Byelorussian nationalists who had supported their candidacy for the Episcopate; he possibly felt the two Hierarchs might be under the control of the nationalists. On 17 May 1942, Father Simeon, who had been tonsured with the name “Stefan,” was consecrated by Metropolitan Panteleimon and Archbishop Filofei. Metropolitan Panteleimon’s ordering of Archbishop Filofei to his Diocese caused the Byelorussian nationalists to deem him “dangerous” to their cause, and with the support of the German occupation authorities, ordered him to resign and hand all authority for the Church to Archbishop Filofei. He was then ordered to prepare for departure to Lyady. On 01 June 1942, Metropolitan Panteleimon wrote an order to Archbishop Filofei: “As a result of my departure from Minsk, during my absence, I charge you to direct all affairs of the Byelorussian Metropolis.” [5]op. cit. 56 Subsequently, Metropolitan Panteleimon and Archbishop Filofei served a Moleben, after which Vladika Panteleimon delivered a farewell speech. He related his heartfelt grief at his involuntary departure, and concluded saying that, “I place all of you under the care of the Queen of Heaven.” [6]op. cit. 56
