R.P.Ts.
SYNOD RECOMMENDS COMMUNICANTS SWITCH TO DISPOSABLE CUPS
Interfax-Religiia,
11
March 2020
The
synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (RPTs) urged strict
observance of measures
for preventing coronavirus.
"The
Holy Synod considers consistent and scrupulous observance of
sanitary hygienic
measures of a preventive nature in parishes and monasteries to
be important,
especially in those regions where epidemic conditions have been
officially recognized
as severe, including a wider use of sanitary solutions for the
disinfection of
icon cases, which believers kiss, and the use of disposable cups
for
beverages," the synod's statement says. A synod session was held
in Moscow
on Wednesday.
Thus,
whereas hitherto after taking holy communion in the RPTs,
believers are given
"drink" (wine mixed with water) from several vessels, now in
light of
the spread of the coronavirus it is recommended to switch to
individual cups.
At the same time, as Interfax was told in the patriarchate,
communion itself
will be distributed out of a single spoon.
In
the event of the spread of coronavirus infection into a specific
region,
additional preventive measures may be used, the statement notes.
"It
is impermissible to take the coronavirus infection lightly, to
neglect medical
prescriptions, and to ignore prophylactic measures that subject
one's self and
associates to the danger of infection," the document says.
The
synod expressed condolences to relatives and friends of victims
of this illness
in China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and
other states,
and it also called the labors of physicians and volunteers who
are helping the
sick and trying to halt the spread of the epidemic "blessed
before the
Lord."
Along
with this, the leadership of the RPTs calls for "restraint,
sobriety, and
prayerful calm" and notes that a believing person should not be
subject to
panic and fear due to the spread of unreliable information about
the illness.
The
Holy Synod calls everybody to intensified prayer for overcoming
the illness and
for granting strength to physicians struggling with it. (tr. by
PDS, posted 11
March 2020)
Editorial disclaimer: RRN does
not intend to certify the accuracy of information
presented in articles. RRN simply intends to certify the
accuracy of the English translation of the contents of the
articles as they appeared in news media of countries of
the former USSR.
If material is quoted, please give credit to the
publication from which it came. It is not necessary to credit
this Web page. If material is transmitted electronically, please
include reference to the URL,
http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/.