O Lord, our God, Who is rich in compassion and mercy; Who directs our life by Your wise Providence. Hear our prayer, accept the repentance of our sins, bring an end to the ruinous pestilence that befalls us as You have, in times before, eradicated ruinous pestilence from among your people.

O Compassionate Saviour! Preserve the health of those who hope in You. O Physician of our souls and bodies, grant recovery to those who are ill and raise them up from their beds of malady and suffering. O Lord, bless, strengthen and protect, by Your grace, all those engaged, of their charity and generosity, in caring for the sick: both in hospitals and in their homes. Deliver the people of our city (village, monastery), our country, and throughout the world from ruinous pestilence, from illnesses and sufferings, and teach us to value life and good health – as gifts from You. Grant us, O God, Your peace. Fill our hearts with unwavering faith in Your protection, with hope in Your succour, with love for You and for our neighbours.

For Yours it is to have mercy upon us and to save us, O our God, and unto You we send up glory: to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

*Approved by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Translation into English by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Yurij)

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear brothers and sisters!

In the Old Testament, the book of the Prophet Jonah describes how the Prophet sought to fight against the Lord’s desire to pardon his enemies, the sinful Ninevites, by calling them to repentance. As he tried to run away from God Jonah was visited by great trials. He was swallowed by big fish. He then repented, decided to obey the Lord and to go to the Ninevites to convert them to repentance. He becomes the instrument of God’s mercy and, through him, the Ninevites repent and are saved from destruction. God transforms his disobedience, by his repentance, into mercy upon the people of Nineveh.

I see a parallel with our current situation as the coronavirus pandemic threatens human life on this planet. Does not the Lord call us also to repentance, to conversion to Him in prayers and works of righteousness and mercy? This critical time gives us the opportunity to think about ourselves and truly discover the meaning of our presence on this earth and to see clearly our strengths and our weaknesses. How do I get used to all these restrictions on my freedom, when we are ordered to stay at home, to wear masks, to not get close to others, and transportation is restricted. Now we understand the value of what we have taken for granted. We have been intoxicated with freedom, and now, when we are restricted, panic comes! Fear instead of faith, and perhaps even lack of hope in God. It is impossible to live our daily lives without challenges, but God has allowed this as a wake-up call to a humanity that has forgotten Him.

Suffering and hardship are part of life for everyone. This time of Lent should help us move closer to God than ever before. The Church calls us to increase our spiritual efforts through prayer. Now, as we spend more time at home, we have time for spiritual reflection, for reading the Scriptures or spiritual books. We have time to call those who are alone and inquire about their state of health. After all, fasting is not only what we put into our mouths, but also what comes out of them. When we have a sober mind and inner peace all life’s challenges can be successfully overcome.

We heed the decision of our Bishops, our government and the doctors who have taken decreed precautionary measures to overcome this pandemic. We, as citizens of this country, must follow their advice and protect our health as well as those with whom we communicate. Although our temples will be closed for public visitation this Sunday, nonetheless by the blessing of Metropolitan Yuri and Bishop Andrew, Fr. Ihor and I shall serve Divine Liturgy at St. Sophie Cathedral with the participation of several choir members. Prayers shall be offered for our faithful, for all of you and for the whole world, for all who are suffering from this disease and for those who have already gone to be with the Lord. We shall be united as never before in spirit, in faith and in prayer. We shall also be broadcasting this Liturgy on the Internet, for the many who are at home and cannot come to the temple. A live broadcast of the Divine Service from St. Sophie Cathedral can be viewed through our official website on Sunday, March 22, 10:00 a.m. at our official site: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1654403361512288/.

 We shall offer our prayers to God, and believe in the power of Him Who created this world and Who by His grace shall save it. May God’s blessing, peace and love be upon you all.

Archpriest Fr. Volodymyr, Rector

ORTHODOX TIMES

Ecumenical Patriarchate: All religious services suspended until end of March (upd)

In a communique issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it is stated that in light of decisions already taken by some eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne, “today we universally declare our ecclesiastical resolution and mandate to cease all divine services, events, and rites, with the exception of private prayer in churches that will remain open, until the end of March”.

It is also noted that this restriction will be later reassessed, in accordance with the development of the pandemic caused by the virus.

The statement, issued by the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod following a meeting of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s hierarchs in Constantinople, also stresses that “the Ecumenical Patriarchate is monitoring the situation with an urgent sense of responsibility towards its faithful and all people without exception.”

It also highlights the spirit of self-sacrifice demonstrated by those working in the field of healthcare, and expresses the gratitude of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

“It commends the spirit of self-sacrifice demonstrated by those working in the field of healthcare and expresses its gratitude for their extraordinary and exhaustive efforts to assist those in need, as well as for the danger they knowingly risk by coming in contact with those infected by Covid-19”.

As a further measure, it is announced that “the Patriarchal Offices at the Phanar will remain closed until further notice, while the Ecumenical Patriarch and clergy of the Patriarchal Court will perform the prescribed divine services and pray for the whole world and for its speedy relief from this trial”.

Read the Communiqué of the Ecumenical Patriarchate:

As this Coronavirus crisis continues to spread and intensify on a global scale, the Ecumenical Patriarchate is monitoring the situation with an urgent sense of responsibility towards its faithful and all people without exception, and, following the Communiqué of 11 March 2020, upon deliberation of its Hierarchs in the City, announces the following:

1) The Ecumenical Patriarchate emphatically reiterates its appeal to everyone to limit their outings and travels to what is necessary, remaining in their homes for their own safety and the protection of the general public.

2) It commends the spirit of self-sacrifice demonstrated by those working in the field of healthcare and expresses its gratitude for their extraordinary and exhaustive efforts to assist those in need, as well as for the danger they knowingly risk by coming in contact with those infected by Covid-19.

3) It underlines the need for everyone to follow the decisions and instructions of the responsible health authorities for the sake of the common good.

4) In light of decisions already taken by some eparchies of the Ecumenical Throne, today we universally declare our ecclesiastical resolution and mandate to cease all divine services, events, and rites, with the exception of private prayer in churches that will remain open, until the end of March. This restriction will be later reassessed, in accordance with the development of the pandemic caused by the virus.

5) All Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monasteries will continue to hold regular divine services for their monastic communities, but outside pilgrims and visitors will not be permitted entry.

6) In the same framework, the Patriarchal Offices at the Phanar will remain closed until further notice, while the Ecumenical Patriarch and clergy of the Patriarchal Court will perform the prescribed divine services and pray for the whole world and for its speedy relief from this trial.

From the Chief Secretariat
of the Holy and Sacred Synod

Phanar, 18 March 2020

“Не is my НеІрег and Protector, and has become my salvation. This is my God and І will glorify Him. Му father’s God and І will exalt Him. Fог gloriously has Не been glorified.” (Exodus 15: 2,1; Psalm 117:14)

Glогу to Jesus Christ!

Уоuг Graces, Reverend Clergy, Dеаг Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we begin the Third Week of Great Lent we see оuг civil authorities оn the federal, provincial and municipal levels taking additional steps, declaring states of emergency, passing new laws, adopting new restrictions regarding national and international travel, closing venues of assembly іn order to impede the spread of the Coronavirus.

We as а Church must do оuг part іn огdег to save lives. То do this we must make adjustments, restrictions and suspensions of оuг rituals, practices, and traditions. lt is better to bе а day еагІу than а day late, mоге active than more passive.

Therefore, from the date of this epistle аll church services, meetings and activities will cease in churches and оn church property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada until further notice. We realize, that this will probably impact our celebration of Easter and аll services before and after.

Our clergy are at the fore-front of maintaining good church order. Should emergencies occur our clergy should bе contacted bу phone or internet and in extra-ordinary instances the clergy will receive counsel and blessing from their bishop. Funerals will bе conducted from the funeral home or chapels at cemeteries (the only exception to these general instructions) in accordance with civil restrictions. Only emergency baptisms will take рІасе according to Orthodox practice. Priests will minister to individuals in seniors and nursing homes, hospitals etc., according to the protocols of these institutions and the understanding of the priest. Priests will deal with situations оп the spot according to their training and conscience.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, at this time of interruption of оuг church services оuг ргауег-lіfе should become more active. Please, lооk through оuг prayer-books, “The Good Shepherd”, and others to find mоге ргауегs, that саn bе incorporated into оuг огdег of ргауегs. Orthodox services may bе found оп television ог the internet. Those who receive television broadcasts from Ukraine may also find Orthodox services there. Fог those, who cannot find these, there аге broadcasts of other churches and а pious listening to these would also bе beneficial at this time. We must face this crisis in faith and with intelligence and with а readiness to react to the directions given bу church, governmental and medical authorities.

Мау the mercies of our Great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ bе with аІІ of you.

With love in Christ,

+YURIJ, Metropolitan
Winnipeg, Canada March 16, 2020