Met. Jonathan issues a decree on performance of services in quarantine
Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchinsky and Bratslavsky. Photo: tulchin-eparchia.org.ua
On March 5, 2020, Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin and Bratslav issued a Decree to the clergy of the Tulchin Eparchy of the UOC on the peculiarities of worship and Sacraments for the period of the national quarantine due to coronavirus, reports the eparchy’s press service.
Guided by the recommendations of the Holy Synod of UOC, and the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 211 of March 11, 2020, in connection with the quarantine, the bishop blesses the clergy of the Tulchin Eparchy to take a number of temporary measures.
The Decree notes that “all the churches of the UOC remain active, services and Sacraments can be performed day and night, except for one sanitary day, provided that there are no more than 10 laypeople inside the church.
The presence of people on the territory of the temple during a worship service should be such as not to fall under the penalties of the police, according to the CMU’s decision to ban mass gatherings.
After the service, the doors of the temple remain open during the day, but no more than 2 people can be in it at a time, by turns.”
It is noted that by prior arrangement the clergy "must provide an opportunity for parishioners in the church to confess (in a short mode) or to receive communion, but in turn and no more than 2 people at a time."
Rectors are blessed to appoint responsible persons whose duties will include ensuring parishioners entrance to and exit from the temple by turns.
The document says about the need to continue to carry out thorough sanitization of the premises of temples, icons and other church items, furniture and other church equipment and observe the quarantine requirements.
It is reported that the peculiarities of service in the Holy Week, Easter and Bright Week will be announced in due course.
As reported earlier, the Primate of the UOC blessed all eparchies to participate in the fight against the pandemic.
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