Moscow, April 13, 2020
Photo: inyourpocket.com
Churches in Moscow and throughout the Moscow Province are to move to a “skeleton crew” regime for one week, according to a circular from His Eminence Metropolitan Dionysiy of Voskresensk, the First Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, issued on Saturday, April 11.
From April 13 to 19, the feast of Holy Pascha, only clergy, choir members, altar servers, those responsible for livestreaming services, and guards are allowed on the territory of churches in the whole of the Moscow Province.
Moscow has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks, Met. Dionysiy notes, and doctors continue to emphasize the importance of staying home.
“In these circumstances, out of concern for the life and health of the people, with pain in his heart, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia has called on Orthodox Christians, following the instructions of the sanitary authorities, to refrain from visiting churches and to stay in their homes, performing home prayer, as well as participating in Divine services via video broadcasts,” the letter reads.
The coronavirus has affected the clergy of several churches, Met. Dionysiy also notes, and services in their parishes have been completely suspended for the time being.
This decision was made in connection with the new order of the chief state sanitary doctor of the city of Moscow E. E. Andreeva, including a requirement for authorities to prevent mass events, including Church services.
