Primate gives spiritual guidelines on how to behave during COVID-19 spread

His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine. Photo: news.church.ua

On March 15, 2020, in his Sunday sermon, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine gave spiritual guidance in connection with the COVID-19 outbreak, reports the UOC Information and Education Department.

The Primate noted that it is necessary to respect and strictly follow sanitary norms and, most importantly, strengthen prayer, to be attentive to one’s sins, and purify them with repentance.

The Primate reminded that humankind and the Church, unfortunately, are not the first to face such challenges.

"Many people ask: what to do? How to behave? You know that it is not the first time the Church faces such tragedies. There have been many different epidemics, cholera, dysentery, etc. in the history of the Church," he recalled.

His Beatitude urged the flock not to disregard the sanitary norms established by the responsible bodies.

"In such times, the Church has always urged people to observe sanitary norms, and we do not neglect them. <...> We must observe sanitary norms, protect ourselves from the simple, elementary influence of this microbe on us," the Primate said.

However, even the most careful observance of sanitary standards alone will not always protect a person from a threat. The most important thing for a believer at such a time remains prayer and repentance.

"If we pray, ask God, repent of our sins, we will destroy this disease," His Beatitude is convinced. “Therefore, the most important thing in this is not so much sanitary standards as prayer and repentance".

He noted that "God allows us to be tested not only for our virtues but for our sins. And in order to get rid of this trial, to bear it with dignity, we must say: "Lord, forgive me, I am sinful. I have sinned and I am guilty and worthy of punishment, but I ask you, Lord, have mercy on me by Your grace. This is what can help us all to overcome this temptation, this trial that has come to us today.”

"May the Lord, through the prayers of the Venerable Fathers of the Kyiv Caves, whose memory we are commemorating today, help us to live in repentance, in fasting and good deeds, and pray to God that God will forgive us our sins, that we will have God's grace in this earthly life and in eternal life," wished Metropolitan Onuphry.

As reported earlier, on March 15, 2020, on the Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Kyiv Near Caves, the Divine service at the Kyiv Caves Holy Dormition Lavra was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine.

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