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
Chernivtsi hierarch consecrated the altar of a new church of the persecuted community in Kerstentsi
In Kerstentsi, believers built a new Transfiguration church after the previous one was seized by supporters of the OCU.
Monastic tonsure held at Krasnohorsky All Saints Monastery
Novice Vadym Serkhovets took monastic vows with the name Euthymius.
Over 25,000 faithful pray at Romanian Nicula Monastery on Dormition feast
Thousands of pilgrims walked a 7-kilometer procession to the Nicula Monastery for the feast.
OCU cleric allows attending Uniate churches
OCU cleric Oleksii Filiuk, responding to the question of whether an Orthodox Christian can become a parishioner of a Uniate church, stated that God is one, and one can attend whichever church is closer.
US police detain participants of anti-Islamic demonstration
Police detained protesters following clashes during the "Christian Crusaders March" rally.
Mokrets authorities seek to halt construction of UOC church on private land
After the seizure of the Dormition Church, believers began constructing a new prayer building; however, local authorities are now demanding that the legality of the construction be verified.