The quarantine regime in place at Kiev’s Goloseevsky-Holy Protection Monastery since mid-April has been lifted. However, while the quarantine from the secular authorities has been lifted, the monastery will remain closed to pilgrims for the time being, by decision of the abbot, His Grace Bishop Isaac.
Beginning on Monday, May 4th, health care workers, EMT personnel, firefighters, and law enforcement officers exposed to the COVID-19 virus can access the Retreat Center facilities for the required 14-day quarantine period free of charge.
The number of people coming to the Hangar of Salvation, run by the Orthodox charitable foundation Mercy in Moscow, has tripled since March 20, with more than 300 people coming daily for free meals.
While the coronavirus pandemic has claimed a number of victims amongst Orthodox clergy and monastics in recent weeks, it is also noteworthy that many others have fully recovered from their complications due to the virus.
The Romanian Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Banescu said that the return to a normal social life also implies to allow people ‘to exercise their fundamental right to public religious life, that is, inside the places of worship.’