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

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!"

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