LEGAL
DEPARTMENT OF
MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE COMMENTS ON ORDER OF ST. PETERSBURG
GOVERNMENT FORBIDDING
ATTENDING CHURCHES
Website
of Russian
Orthodox Church, 26 March 2020
"In the
Russian
Federation, freedom of conscience and freedom of religious
confession are
guaranteed, including the right to conduct, individually or
jointly with
others, worship services and other religious rituals and
ceremonies (article 28
of the constitution of the RF, point 1 of article 3 of the
federal law 'On
freedom of conscience and religious associations')."
"The
right of a
person and citizen to freedom of conscience and freedom of
religious confession
may be limited for purposes of protecting the health of citizens
only by a
federal law (part 3, of article 55 of the constitution of the
RF; point 2 of
article 3 of the federal law 'On freedom of conscience and
religious
associations')."
"Other
acts of
government bodies (including acts of government bodies of
constituent elements
[subjects] of the Russian Federation and municipal bodies) may
not restrict the
freedom of conscience and freedom of religious confession,
including the right
of citizens to visit religious buildings for purposes of
participation in
worship services, inasmuch as such acts do not have the status
of federal
law." (tr. by PDS, posted 27 March 2020)
R.P.Ts.
CONDEMNS ST.
PETERSBURG GOVERNMENT'S BAN ON VISITING CHURCHES
The
Legal Department
of the Moscow Patriarchate considers illegal the order of the
government of St.
Petersburg, which forbids believers to visit religious
organizations, since
such bans may be imposed only by federal law, according to a
report published
on the website of the Russian Orthodox Church.
On
Thursday, the
government of St. Petersburg issued an order (No. 161 of 26
March 2020) which
forbids "attending by individual persons of buildings
(territories) of
religious organizations, with the exception of ministers and
religious
personnel of the aforesaid religious organizations." (tr. by
PDS, posted
27 March 2020)
ST.
PETERSBURG
CHURCHES CONTINUE MINISTRY DESPITE BAN ON VISITING THEM
Interfax-Religiia,
27
March 2020
The
churches of the
St. Petersburg diocese are continuing service, a commentary
says, which was
published on Thursday in connection with the introduction by
city authorities
of a temporary ban on attending religious buildings.
"It is
necessary
for clergy to fulfill their pastoral duty for all believers,
including those
who feel the need in the current difficult time of going to
churches for
prayers for loved ones, for the city, and for the nation.
Therefore the
churches of the St. Petersburg diocese are will continue their
service,"
the report says.
The
diocese notes
that since 19 March, special measures for performing worship
services and
sacraments are being used in the churches: disinfection is being
performed and
parishioners are being informed about taking personal measures
of prevention
and about recommendations of the Rospotrebnadzor.
"Parishioners
who
consider it necessary to remain at home may receive consolation
through the
organization of online broadcasts on the Soiuz and Spas
television channels and
on social networks. The Kazan cathedral church already conducts
such
broadcasts. Parishioners who are older than 65 years and also
those suffering
chronic illnesses may request in churches communion at home,"
the report
notes.
On
Thursday, the city
authorities published an order by which, from 28 March until 5
April, among
others things, a ban on visiting places of worship is
introduced, with the exception
of their ministers. The Russian Orthodox Church considers the
ban on attending
churches a contradiction of the constitution. (tr. by PDS,
posted 27 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/.