The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church requests the state leadership of the Republic of Serbia to approve the suspension of the curfew imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic on Easter day.
Specifically, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church asks the Serbian government to allow the movement of citizens on Easter day, from 5 to 10 o’clock in the morning, so that “Orthodox Christians who are not in isolation and self-isolation could participate in the Morning service and the Liturgy on their greatest feast day.”
It is reminded that the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church decided not to suspend the Divine Liturgy and the mystery of the Holy Communion.
According to the communiqué issued by the secretariat of the Holy Synod of the Church of Serbia on March 29: “The Church will continue to perform the Divine Liturgy and the faithful will continue to receive Holy communion because this is a matter which cannot be debated: it is the basis of our faith in the Living God.”
They even call on the faithful over 65 as well as those of younger age with ill health and weaker immune systems, to refrain from coming to church for worship in the coming days and weeks, in order not to put themselves and others at risk.
Also, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church sends expressions of brotherly love and solidarity to Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, and regrets for the actions of the authorities of Montenegro towards the Metropolitan.
It is reminded that Metropolitan Amfilohije, the Serbian Orthodox Church’s top bishop in Montenegro, had been detained by the country’s police for holding a prayer at the Zlatica monastery in the capital, Podgorica, on Sunday.
Media reported that Amfilohije was brought in by police with dozens of other priests and believers for violating the government’s ban on holding religious ceremonies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police also detained priests from the Christ Resurrection Temple in Podgorica and the leader of the opposition Prava Crna Gora party, Marko Milacic.
The Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro condemned the police action on Sunday calling for the immediate release of Metropolitan Amfilohije. One of SPC’s top priests, Gojko Perovic, told the news agency MINA that is not “clear” why the police detained the Metropolitan.
Read the Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops
From its session, held today, on April 13 of this year, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church addressed the state leadership of the Republic of Serbia with a proposal and a request to approve the suspension of the curfew imposed due to the pandemic of coronavirus – on Easter, from 5 to 10 o’clock in the morning, so that Orthodox Christians who are not in isolation and self-isolation could participate in the Morning service and the Liturgy on their greatest feast day.
At the same session, expressions of brotherly love and solidarity were sent to Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, and of discontent at the actions of the Montenegrin authorities towards him.
From the Office of the Holy Synod of Bishops