Metropolitan Athinagoras of Belgium sent a message to the flock regarding the coronavirus crisis.
He addresses and wishes everyone a happy and holy Easter while emphasizing that “these days we are all participating in the extraordinary event of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior”.
“But how can we forget today that we celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection under very difficult circumstances? The coronavirus epidemic spreads rapidly and deprive us of the opportunity to go to church on these very important and holy days for every Orthodox Christian, including the day of Christ’s Resurrection. The Lord will hear the prayers of His Church and His Grace will allow us to gather again under the vault of our holy temples,” says the Metropolitan.
He recalls the last decision of the Belgian National Security Council made on April 15, according to which all the extraordinary measures taken by the authorities regarding the religious services are extended until May 3.
Also, according to these decisions, Divine Liturgies will be held on Sundays only at the Cathedral in Brussels and the Cathedrals in Rotterdam and in Luxembourg. The other parish churches will remain closed.
He urges everyone to respect the decisions, and invites the clergy to keep contact with the sick, the vulnerable and the isolated.