Ministry of Health to decide within a week if to close churches for Easter
Believers of the UOC hope to celebrate Easter in open churches. Photo: politeka.net
Deputy Minister of Health Viktor Liashko said that the authorities do not plan to close churches for Easter yet, but are going to introduce additional precautions for the Easter period.
“It is necessary to find a compromise between the observance of quarantine restrictions and the fact that someone is not allowed into the temple,” “Glavcom” quotes his words. "I think these issues will be resolved within a week."
There are no specific restrictions on the format yet. Leaders of religious confessions will be involved in the discussion, the dialogue with whom will be "big and difficult", as the deputy minister expects.
“We want someone to be in the church, but in compliance with all the restrictions, and someone must stay outside,” Liashko said in a comment to "RBC-Ukraine". "Plus, the Easter online format which was last year is possible."
On April 8, during a press breakfast at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the head of the UOC, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary, said that the believers hope, observing quarantine standards, to meet Easter in churches and hear the most important words: “Christ is Risen - Truly Risen!"
Read also
Relics of St. Tikhon Visit Belgorod, Will Continue Nationwide Procession in Russia
Faithful gather at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to venerate relics of Patriarch-Confessor.
New Hampshire Becomes 20th State to Ban All Gender Transition Procedures for Minors
Governor Ayotte signs laws prohibiting surgeries, hormones, and puberty blockers for youth.
Media: Abp. of Cyprus blackmails Pat. Bartholomew with Onuphry mention
Fr. Evangelos Papanikolaou claims that Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus will commemorate Met. Onuphry of Kyiv (UOC) if Constantinople overturns controversial ruling on Met. Tychikos of Paphos.
WCC Demands 'Protection' for St. Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai
The WCC also passed resolutions on the Armenian Genocide and the terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus.
Russian Orthodox Church Provides Aid to Earthquake Victims
Volunteers from the Petropavlovsk and Kamchatka Diocese are providing food and aid at the Holy Trinity Cathedral’s humanitarian warehouse to support residents affected by a powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake in Kamchatka.
Serbian Patriarch Slams 'Undemocratic' Ruling Against Republika Srpska Leader
Patrarch Porfirije condemned the verdict as "unlawful and undemocratic." He is a vocal supporter of autonomy for Bosnian Serbs.