Restrictions because of CoronaVirus - REPLIES FROM ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS ONLY

Anhelyna said:

I have just found this Directives to be followed by the Clergy dealing with Covid-19 (Coronavirus) - Official Documents - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

As yet we have not received instructions like this in the UK [ even though most of the Latin Church bishops have made some suggestions but not as restrictive as these ]

Are the OCA doing likewise ? Other Churches ?

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No. Father did talk about it on Sunday. We have hand sanitizer in the hall (which we always have) and Father asked people to stay home if they are sick. They are wiping down the icons after service and the wine after communion is all in plastic cups instead of the common cup. The Eucharist absolutely is continued as normal. He suggested common sense measures in general, but emphasized that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ, and that it is not a source for people becoming sick.

I think it is more individual in the response, rather than a directive from the OCA as a whole (except for the OCA direction to not change communion and work together with the bishop in areas of outbreak), but all in all, our parish didn’t seem to change much.

ETA: It looks like there is a directive saying we should do what Father said. Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America makes a Statement regarding COVID-19 It also says that any area with outbreaks may consider temporary measures based on determination of the bishop.

yeah, as clergy who has consumed the Chalice after the Liturgy on more than one occasion, the Eucharist doesn't transmit disease. I have never gotten sick even when I communed sick parishioners.

for other things, use common sense.

ArmyMatt said:

yeah, as clergy who has consumed the Chalice after the Liturgy on more than one occasion, the Eucharist doesn't transmit disease. I have never gotten sick even when I communed sick parishioners.

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Agree with the post.

I respond just to say that I know priests which did the same for the people with Tuberculosis and AIDS.

JohnTh said:

Agree with the post.

I respond just to say that I know priests which did the same for the people with Tuberculosis and AIDS.

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I consumed the Chalice after a parishioner who had strep throat.

Anhelyna said:

I have just found this Directives to be followed by the Clergy dealing with Covid-19 (Coronavirus) - Official Documents - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

As yet we have not received instructions like this in the UK [ even though most of the Latin Church bishops have made some suggestions but not as restrictive as these ]

Are the OCA doing likewise ? Other Churches ?

Click to expand...

I’m very upset over this directive, personally. It feels like the enemy is dividing us from each other and our priests/spiritual fathers and promoting lack of faith in Holy Objects of God and his representatives who always wash their hands before serving the Eucharist and therefore have clean hands when we go to receive blessed bread and kiss his hand. I don’t like this at all.

ArmyMatt said:

yeah, as clergy who has consumed the Chalice after the Liturgy on more than one occasion, the Eucharist doesn't transmit disease. I have never gotten sick even when I communed sick parishioners.

for other things, use common sense.

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Didn't they also do this during The Bubonic Plague / The Black Death and various other plagues ?


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Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

Didn't they also do this during The Bubonic Plague / The Black Death and various other plagues ?


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Fr. Lucas Christiansen posted this yesterday that I think is relevant to this topic:

HOW EARLY CHRISTIANS REACTED TO PLAGUE

“Most of our brothers showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains. Many, in nursing and curing others, transferred their death to themselves and died in their stead.... The best of our brothers lost their lives in this manner, a number of presbyters, deacons, and laymen winning high commendation so that in death in this form, the result of great piety and strong faith, seems in every way the equal to martyrdom.”

-Pastoral Letter, Bp. Dionysios of Alexandria, Dionysius, Festival Letters, in Eusebius, The History of the Church 7.22.

From, _The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World's Largest Religion_ by Rodney Stark.

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Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

Didn't they also do this during The Bubonic Plague / The Black Death and various other plagues ?


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what Dot said

Well, infinitely more people die from the flu every year than COVID 19. We cannot let hysteria enter the Church. With the absurdity going on in Montenegro and Ukraine and the growing body of liberal dingalings in the Church who are steadily accepting sinful society's conventions, we cannot let paranoia overcome our liturgical structure. If someone feels sick, they should stay home and rest anyway. That is the best advice a priest could give. Sick? Stay home and recover. Denying the chalice and the sacramental life? Meh.

I will still kiss my priest's hand when I receive antidoron at the end of the Liturgy after 100 of my brethren have already done so.

prodromos said:

I will still kiss my priest's hand when I receive antidoron at the end of the Liturgy after 100 of my brethren have already done so.

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Good luck with that. God bless

~Cassia~ said:

Good luck with that. God bless

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good luck with what?

~Cassia~ said:

Good luck with that. God bless

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You're not Eastern Orthodox. Why did you even feel the need to comment?

~Cassia~ said:

Good luck with that. God bless

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Am I the only one who didn't take that comment in a negative way?

Not David said:

Am I the only one who didn't take that comment in a negative way?

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I've never seen the expression used where the intention wasn't ironic or sarcastic

I think this fellow speaks some sense.

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:

Didn't they also do this during The Bubonic Plague / The Black Death and various other plagues ?

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In reality we still do it. All types of diseases out there and all it takes is one. Cholera, hepatitis, strep, mono, etc. You dont know what another person may have and if its terminal all the more reason to commune. I remember an elderly man at church who communed every week but always the very last one. Talking to him one sunday, the elderly man told me a parishioner asked him if he had a disease. The reason this parishioner came to this conclusion was why else would he always be the very last person to commune (for years). The elderly man told him, if I had a transmissible disease as the reason for communing last the priest would be dead by now because what do you think happens to the leftover.

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