OCU cleric holds Communion via video conferencing
OCU cleric Igor Savva. Photo: facebook.com/ Igor Savva
On May 11, 2020, Igor Savva, rector of the Zaporizhzhia community of Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, a former UOC priest who was banned from the priesthood, wrote on his Facebook page that under quarantine in connection with the coronavirus, he holds Communion for his parishioners via video conferencing.
“Since the beginning of quarantine, we have been serving liturgies online. To make up for the lack of communion, we talked about spiritual communion (because it is actually not material), tried to deliver spare gifts to the parishioners, but this is not always available to everyone.
All this time I’ve been thinking why it is impossible to make the online liturgy full. We pray that this bread and this wine become the Body and Blood of Christ and make us part of Him so that we become His Body. Doesn't this prayer "work" from a distance? Maybe radio waves (WiFi) or the use of gadgets is an obstacle to our unification around Christ, His life-giving Body and Blood?” writes the OCU representative.
He goes on to describe the “amazing experience of a full liturgy with communion using the Hangouts video conferencing program”: “Each of the worshipers prepared bread, wine and water in front of the monitor. We served the liturgy of John Chrysostom, in turn reading and singing the following parts. The consecration of the Gifts took place in the same way as during the worship in the temple. All participants communed, each in their own home. It was an amazing and inspiring service.”
Read also
Bp. Theodosius: Ukraine's Authorities Classify Icons as Works of Art and Relics as Mummies
ROCOR hierarch links current policies toward holy sites and clergy to Soviet-era repression, calls for prayer and respect for religious freedom.
Society of St. John's Day of Action Gives Hope Persecution of UOC May Subside, Analyst Says
Political scientist says congressional outreach and high-level U.S. statements signal possible shift in response to persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Catholic Host of 'Roots of Orthodoxy' Says Orthodox Apologists are 'Disgusting', 'Trash'
"You Orthodox apologists are absolutely freaking disgusting," Cabada said. "You're a disgusting human being. You're trash. I'm not scared to say that."
Rep. Bacon: 'I Don't Think the UOC Takes Orders from Russia'
Earlier this week, the congressman rejected an opportunity for dialogue with members of the Society of St. John who visited his office despite them holding the same viewpoint.
Petition Warns Canada’s Hate Speech Law Could Criminalize Scripture
Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging the Liberal government to drop proposed hate-speech changes that critics warn could criminalize quoting the Bible and other religious texts.
JD Vance: Criticizing Israel Is Not Antisemitism
Vice President JD Vance said opposing Israeli policies is not the same as antisemitism, sparking debate over where criticism of Israel ends and hatred of Jews begins.