Anatol Parakhnevich

Father Anatoly has served in Olkovichi since 2007. Prior to that, he served in Rakov and Zaslavl, and trained in Białystok, Poland. Last year, he celebrated the 30th anniversary of his priestly ordination, as did Archbishop Joseph Stanevsky.

He was arrested in mid-March 2026. Father Anatoly has no family or friends, so there is no one to find out anything about him except the bishops.

At the end of April 2026, it became known that Anatoly suffered a heart attack in the pre-trial detention center and remains in serious condition.

Also, as far as Belarusian believers know , the priest is accused of "treason." There is no specific information on the charges. It is believed that the priest is being held in a KGB pretrial detention facility. Unknown masked men arrived in several cars to arrest him, and his house was sealed.

In the absence of any official information, a theory has emerged among Catholic believers in Belarus regarding the likely pretext for the priest's arrest in the Vileika district. After comparing several facts learned by the believers, they concluded that Father Anatoly Parakhnevich may have been accused of assisting in preserving the memory of Polish citizens who died in previous years in what is now Belarus.

Throughout his priestly career, the 65-year-old priest served in a region that, in the first half of the 20th century, experienced difficult historical conditions and tragic times. The priest deeply studied the history and culture of this region and was committed to its preservation.

Father Anatoly created a small museum at the church in Olkovichi. It housed 18th-century silk-embroidered ornaments adorned with family Slutsk sashes, a unique collection of Belarusian towels, and antique books.

The priest suffered a heart attack while in custody. The 65-year-old priest remains in serious condition in pretrial detention. Also, as far as Belarusian believers know, the priest is accused of "treason." The specific charges are unknown.