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.
Read also
TCC detained a UOC priest in Yarmolynetsi in Khmelnytsia region
The TCC abducted the rector of the Intercession parish of the village of Sutkovtsy, Archpriest Volodymyr Stepanyshyn, who is already at a training ground in Rivne.
Church celebrates feast of Holy Foremost Apostles Peter and Paul
On July 12, the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Apostles' Fast (Peter's Fast) comes to an end for Orthodox Christians.
UGCC cleric criticizes OCU head for awarding Greek Catholic officials
Hieromonk Yustyn Boiko of the Lviv Archeparchy called the awarding of church honors to officials a profanation and cited the example of an OCU order presented to a Greek Catholic official.
Expert who found no defamation in Dumenko’s remarks to face disciplinary action
An Interior Ministry research center has confirmed disciplinary measures against the expert whose findings supported what the Metropolitan’s representatives described as unfounded accusations by the OCU head against Metropolitan Theodosiy.
European Parliament condemns forced Islamization of children in Pakistan
The European Parliament has called on Pakistan to establish a mechanism to protect Christian families.
Church of the Presentation damaged by shelling in Russia’s Kursk Region
The newly built church in the village of Kulbaki, Glushkovo District, was completely gutted by fire after being struck by a projectile.