. . . we are not declaring a personal opinion
on this matter, but rather we base our statement on the centuries-old tradition
and experience of the Orthodox Church, which during Her two-millennium-long
history has faced the spreading of much more dangerous plagues.
Often
it was our Church, through Her holy mysteries, that was one of the main actors
in the suppression of deadly infectious diseases. In historical
chronicles and the lives of the saints, we can find many examples of how in
times of epidemics, the servants of God would double their liturgical labors,
serve all-night vigils, molebens and processions with holy relics, miracle
working icons, crosses, etc, through the cities and areas that were infected.
In
those difficult times of epidemics, the Church never introduced overly-cautious
measures such as those which are now being mentioned by some more liberal
bishops in the official Orthodox churches: the suspension of gatherings for
holy services, avoiding venerating icons, avoiding taking the priest’s
blessing, not giving communion of the Holy Life-giving Mysteries to everyone
from the same chalice with the same spoon, and so forth.
As
far as the suggestions, or even insistence, of the worldly powers on
introducing these measures into church life, we can see them either as proof of
simple ignorance of the supernatural, miraculous nature of the Church of
Christ, or as proof of a malicious, anti-ecclesiastical attack by those who
wish to mock all things holy.
Let
us bring up one of many examples from the miraculous work of the Church during
a dangerous epidemic. In the sixth century, when a terrible plague was ravaging
the population of Rome, St Gregory the Dialogist, Pope of Rome, organized a
great procession through the streets of suffering Rome with an icon of Our Most
Pure Lady, which miraculously, instantly stopped the plague. To this day, this
icon is venerated as the protector of Rome, and is known as Our Lady “Savior of
the Roman People” (Salus Populi Romani).
In
earlier times, deadly epidemics were considered to be a punishment from God for
a people’s sins. The Church, rulers, and people, instead of reacting with panic
about preserving their bodily health, rather united in national repentance,
heartfelt prayers, extra fasts, and labors to change their lives to conform to
the Gospel. In other words, the people en masse came back to
their senses and to God, and directed most of their energy not just to
technical measures to suppress the infection, but on efforts to recover their
spiritual health.
We
are by no means against sanitary precautions and preventive epidemiological
measures, but we cannot mix these things with the Church as a mystical,
miraculous body. Even if She is on earth, She is not of this
earth.
We
believe and confess that prayerful gatherings of the believers who gather in
the Lord’s churches, with the aim of prayerfully addressing God, receiving the
Holy Mysteries and the blessing of God through the clergy, not only will not
hurt us by spreading viruses, but on the contrary, they are the only dependable
defense, the only effective, all-powerful medicine.
In
our times, when some dangerous epidemic runs rampant, everyone is in panic and
fear for their life and health. This fear is nothing new. It is as
old as the fall of our first parents. But it is wrong for a Christian to
succumb to these kinds of fears, because he should know that the power of God
is greater and stronger than any evil, attack, illness, and death itself.
The
main goal and meaning of man’s life is not the preservation of life on this
earth - which is impossible - but rather, participation in Christ’s triumph
over death, in His Resurrection, and in the life of the age to come.
What
we really need, due to our sinful decadence as a people, is not panic about
bodily illness or death, but rather, fear of God which will spur us to zeal to
become faithful servants of our Living God and remain so until the end.
While
this danger of virus and corresponding state of emergency lasts, we enjoin our
clergymen to serve a moleben to Our Most Holy Theotokos every Sunday after the
Holy Liturgy.
Whether
the panic which is being raised by mass communication is justified, and whether
this new Corona virus is truly so dangerous to the global population, are
questions which we cannot address with certainty at this time.
One
thing is sure: we believe in Our Savior Jesus Christ and we offer our prayers
to Him to deliver us from the hidden traps of the antichrist, and every wrath,
misfortune, need and danger, poisonous winds, fatal illnesses and every evil,
and to have mercy on us and save us as good and the lover of mankind. Amen!
--https://serbiantrueorthodox.blogspot.com/2020/03/statement-to-public-concerning-corona.html,
(Thanks to C for the link.)
--
Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England,
South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð,
unworthy though we are!
Anathema to the Union!
Amen!
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