In Moscow, three priests of the Russian Orthodox Church became infected with the coronavirus, its presence is suspected even two
kiriak09 / DepositPhotos Coronavirus infected priest Nikolai Ryzhkov from the temple of the Mother of God “assuage my sorrows” in Marino, priest Viktor Volkov from the temple of Rozhdestva Presvyatoy Bogoroditsy V Krylatskom and priest George Dekhtyar from the Church of the ascension on a Pea field
Moscow-Live.ru / Nicholas Budziszewski
In Moscow, three priests of the Russian Orthodox Church became infected with the coronavirus, its presence is suspect two others. It is reported by RIA “Novosti” with reference to a working group under Patriarch for the coordination of the activities of Church institutions in the context of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus infected priest Nikolai Ryzhkov from the temple of the Mother of God “assuage my sorrows” in Marino, priest Viktor Volkov of the Church of the Nativity Presvyatoy Bogoroditsy V Krylatskom and priest George Dekhtyar from the Church of the ascension on a Pea field.
in addition, the rector of the Church of the Nativity of the blessed virgin Mary in Krylatskom George Breeva and clergy of the same Church of Dmitry Karpova identified the symptoms of the coronavirus, but the diagnosis is not confirmed. “Contact with these clergy, please be attentive to their health and to isolate itself”, – stated in the message of the working group.
a disease of the 83-year-old Breeva confirmed by his son, a member of the publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Nikolay Breev. “The sad news. Father George is in the hospital with bilateral pneumonia. COVID-19 is yet to be confirmed, analysis will come tomorrow,” wrote the evening of 5 April in Facebook the parishioners with reference to Breeva Jr.
“Fontanka” reports that Breev was among those who moved on to remote services. He did not close his temple and April 1 was held with the participation of dozens of parishioners.
Russian Orthodox Church has long refused to impose any restrictions on the background of the growing number of cases of coronavirus. Metropolitan Tomsk and Asinovsky Rostislav previously stated that to be infected with the coronavirus, like cholera, in the temples is impossible. “The Church has repeatedly declared that through the divine body of Christ no infection can be transmitted. Proven experience and history of the Church for 2 thousand years. Even in the time of cholera people were taking communion, the Eucharist – the healing of soul and body,” he said.
media reported that representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church to sabotage the restriction order of service in the Church at the time of the coronavirus. So, the head of the legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate abbess Xenia (Chernega) criticized the orders of the authorities of St. Petersburg to ban visits to churches in connection with the threat of infection is coronavirus.
while the Federation of Jewish communities of Russia has closed its synagogue all over the country and in Moscow mosques ceased to be public prayers, the ROC is limited to the mailing of the circular to dioceses and a statement to the media that the temples will close only when the stop public transport and all shops.
According to the instructions of the Patriarchy sent to the parishes, should only often to disinfect, wipe licy during the communion of the laity, to use disposable cotton swabs when anointing with oil and the cups back. But even these half-measures in most cases are not respected: the poor provincial parishes refer to the lack of funds and the rich monasteries (e.g., the Trinity-Sergius Lavra) argue that the infection does not transmit through the sacrament. While in Sergiev Posad already registered the first cases of infection – the head of the local old believer community in a serious condition hospitalized with coronavirus in clinical hospital N 40 in Kommunarka.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who heads the working group of the state Council on coronavirus, warned that from 30 March, when Moscow will close almost all offices, restaurants, cafes, open shops, etc., will be limited and access to the premises of religious organizations. The working group of the Moscow Patriarchate, though “understanding”, but negatively responded to the warning Sobyanin. “The pastoral responsibilities of the clergy will be fully enforced against all those believers who find themselves in this difficult time to come to the temple,” the group said.
March 17, Patriarch Kirill, demanded stricter sanitary rules for worship. To refrain from visiting temples and other religious institutions, he urged citizens on 29 March. Thus in the Rostov region has promised to introduce special permits for the laity, stating that the closure of the temples “will plunge the people into the abyss of depression.”
