SERVICES
ARE
CONTINUING: METROPOLITANATE EXPLAINS HOW SPb. CHURCHES ARE
OPERATING DUE TO
CORONAVIRUS
Doors of
almost all
Saint Petersburg churches are open.
Due to
coronavirus
one cannot access only St. Isaac's and Savior on the Blood.
But they
will not be
working only until 5 April 2020.
by
Evgenia Moskvina
Komsomolskaia
Pravda,
30 March 2020
During
the nonworking
week, which will last until 5 April, parishioners in St.
Petersburg [SPb] will
not be able to go to services in the St. Isaac's and Savior on
the Blood
cathedrals. Following the measures for combating the coronavirus
and the order
of the governor, the monument museums decided not to admit
visitors for now.
The metropolitanate explained how the churches are working in
St. Petersburg
until 5 April 2020.
There is
only one change.
In all churches, disinfection has been intensified and the
sacraments are being
conducted in accordance with special instructions. For example,
the blessed
bread must be handled with gloves and kissing crosses has been
annulled. In
addition, parishioners have been notified about safety measures,
particularly
elderly people. At the same time, on Sunday, 29 March 2020,
Patriarch Kirill
urged Russians to refrain from visiting churches during the
period of the
coronavirus pandemic.
"Priests
will
not take upon themselves the responsibility of not letting
people into the
churches. Services are continuing and priests are required to
conduct them.
Without the liturgy, there is no church," the press service of
the St.
Petersburg metropolitanate noted.
We
recall that on 26
March, a new order of the governor of the city came out
regarding measures for
combating the coronavirus. Among other things, the document
introduced a ban on
all residents of the city on visiting churches and other
religious institutions
(along with other mass events). There was exception only for
ministers and
church personnel. Of course, nobody has cancelled the services
themselves. At
the same time, St. Petersburgers are continuing to attend,
although they are
maintaining a distance. (tr. by PDS, posted 30 March 2020)
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