UOC hierarch: Even circuses factored into lockdown exit plan but not Church

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary. Photo: screenshot of the video on the Facebook page of the Orthodox Herald channel

The Chancellor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil and Brovary, commented on the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the steps to ease quarantine in connection with the coronavirus, the Information and Education Department of the UOC reports.

The hierarch noted that the weakening of quarantine applies to almost all areas of activity, even artistic, but not the Church.

“As far as I know, out of the five stages that are planned to weaken quarantine, the religious part has not been fixed anywhere. It is amazing. Because, on the one hand, we say that Ukraine is a very religious country, but on the other hand, we see that quarantine exit applies to almost all areas of activity, even artistic – there is also a provision for circuses ... But for some reason they forgot about the Church,” said Metropolitan Anthony.

The UOC Chancellor stressed that a lot of faithful citizens of Ukraine are concerned about when the Churches will be allowed to ease quarantine.

“A man consists not only of the material shell. Man is a spiritual and material being. The soul is more important. A believing man cannot imagine how to live without God. Many believers are tired without worship. The Cabinet of Ministers did not take this into account. Although, this is the case with not only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church but also all religious organizations,” he said.

The hierarch noted that the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations sent its proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers on easing the quarantine, but there is no feedback from the authorities so far.

The UOC hierarch gave examples of what religious quarantine concessions have been introduced in other countries.

“This is an amazing situation in Ukraine, because if we take other European countries, the church sphere is taken into account in the governmental quarantine exit plans. For example, it is believed that the Czech Republic is the most non-religious state, however, starting from April 27, there are exemptions regarding visiting temples. From today a new stage was commenced in relation to the permitted number of worshipers in churches,” said the Metropolitan.

As reported by the UOJ, the Primate of the UOC blessed all dioceses to participate in the control of the pandemic.

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