Wayne, West Virginia, August 5, 2021
Photo: holycross.org
On July 26, Holy Cross Monastery (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) in Wayne, West Virginia, announced that due to the coronavirus’ spread through the brotherhood, the monastery is temporarily closed and the public celebration of the feast of St. Panteleimon on August 8/9 is canceled.
Yesterday, the monastery further reported that its abbot, Archimandrite Seraphim, and two brothers, Monk Benedict and Riassaphore Monk Damascene, have been hospitalized with COVID.
“Thanks be to God, none of them are critical and their prognoses are all good,” the report reads. Fr. Seraphim is being treated for a blood clot in his lungs and receiving supplemental oxygen.
Altogether, 19 community members have fallen ill.
The report concludes:
We earnestly ask for your continued prayers for Fr. Seraphim and all of the brotherhood of Holy Cross. The spread of the coronavirus and the hospitalization of our abbot have also been joined by many other temptations in advance of the feast of our patron, the Holy Great-martyr and Healer Panteleimon, next Monday on August 9th. But we know that the grace of God and protection of St. Panteleimon are more than a match for anything that this world and its prince can do against us, especially as we are joined and supported by the love and prayers of so many of our beloved friends and pilgrims. Fr. Seraphim and the brotherhood remain eternally grateful to all of you, and to our God Who is wondrous in His saints.
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