RUSSIA RELIGION NEWS


Ukrainian government wants to limit public celebration of Easter

ZELENSKY ANNOUNCES "EASTER AT HOME" PROJECT BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS

RIA Novosti, 25 March 2020

 

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has discussed with heads of churches the safety of celebrating Pascha and conducting worship services in circumstances of the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19, and the authorities intend to present an "Easter at Home" project, the press service of the head of state announced on Wednesday.

 

Earlier, the Ukrainian cabinet of ministers introduced a quarantine from 12 March to 3 April in all academic institutions of the country, and it banned mass events because of the threat of the spread of the coronavirus. At the session on Wednesday they extended it until 24 April. In all, in the country 114 cases of infection with coronavirus have been identified, four of which were fatal, and one patient has recovered.

 

"Leaders of churches understand that a service can be conducted online in the form of a videoconference. If some ritual requires the presence of people, then it is necessary to limit the number of parishioners. All leaders of churches agree with this," the press service quotes Zelensky.

 

At the conference of the president with heads of the state administration they also considered the possibility of deploying patrols near temples and churches. In the event of the large gathering of people, they should conduct conversations with parishioners and explain that gathering in crowds is dangerous not only for themselves but also for the health of people nearby.

 

"Pascha usually gathers many people in church. These include people from abroad. Therefore we are now preparing and will soon present an 'Easter at Home' project, which will help in celebrating this great holiday at home without collecting in crowds in churches" the head of state said.

 

The holiday of the Resurrection of Christ, or Pascha, is celebrated this year on 19 April. On 11 March, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 a pandemic. According to the latest data of the W.H.O., 372,000 persons have already been infected and more than 16,000 have died. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 March 2020)


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