Tbilisi, March 16, 2020
Photo: spzh.news
As have most Local Churches and many individual dioceses in the Orthodox world, the Georgian Patriarchate issued a statement concerning the ongoing coronavirus epidemic over the weekend, published on the official Patriarchate website.
The statement combines practical suggestions for ensuring health and safety with a number of spiritual guidelines.
“Civil liability requires us to follow these guidelines” from the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, the statement begins. The Church thus urges its parishioners not to travel abroad, and those returning from high-risk countries to self-isolate. Those who feel ill should stay at home and call upon a priest for pastoral care if necessary.
The Church also reminds all to practice good hygiene, emphasizing that additional security measures and disinfectants have already been issued to the churches.
Regarding spiritual advice, the Church calls on its faithful to drink holy water often and to use it to bless their homes and work spaces. They should also remember to say the Jesus Prayer or simply, “Lord have mercy.”
A prayer should be said before eating and the food should be blessed. A prayer should also be said after eating.
The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated as usual, though the Church blesses individual cups to be used for receiving the blessed wine (zapivka) after Communion.
The rest of the statement reads:
We would like to point out that the church is a special place of worship, and the Liturgy celebrated there is the most important ministry on earth. A person who believes in prayer will go to the living God, Jesus Christ, Who is Himself the source of life and peace, hope, and joy, and we must not depart from this grace.
We ask the clergy in particular to pray for those individuals who have been infected and for those who are selflessly caring for the sick and aiding their recovery.
After the Liturgy, the priests should serve a moleben and sprinkle holy water on the churches and the surrounding streets.
His Holiness, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II has made the decision that on every Sunday starting from March 15 the bells of every church across the country are to ring out in unison at 12 noon (as well as all Georgian parishes abroad at the corresponding hour local time) and the prayers the Our Father, Rejoice Virgin Theotokos, and Open the Doors of Thy Compassion, will be offered together. Whoever is not in church at that time, wherever they are, is called upon to join in those very prayers so that in oneness of faith we may implore the Lord together around the globe, across Georgia, and in our homes.
Furthermore, by the request of His Holiness and Beatitude, all of the Orthodox faithful are to read the prayer “To Thee the Champion Leader” every day, who has repeatedly saved the people from great tribulation.
We ask the clergy in particular to pray for those individuals who have been infected and for those who are selflessly caring for the sick and aiding their recovery.
We encourage the faithful to draw nearer to each other to surmount times of darkness, to forgive as Christ forgave, and to be exemplars of Christian love and care for one another: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ (Gal 6:2)
May the Theotokos come unto the aid of this country, unto each of you, and may this nation be strengthened in the true faith. Amen!
Pat. Ilia earlier revealed that he was granted a spiritual vision confirming that man can defeat the coronavirus.
