Closing Churches is an "Unjustified Offense Against God", Says [Republic of Georgia] Synod of Orthodox Bishops

Russian Faith ^ | 4/29/20

[marshmallow]

Why put so much emphasis on people gathering in worship once a week, when there are far more people crowding in public transport, pharmacies, and grocery stores?

According to the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Georgia, a ban on Church attendance is an unjustified offense against God, and those who reject the Church’s Communion thereby reject Christ Himself. “Communion from one chalice is the highest confirmation of the love and unity of the flock with Christ, and those who refuse this, refuse the Savior . . . "

The Georgian Patriarchate issued a strong statement, both reiterating its call for the faithful to follow necessary sanitary guidelines and responding to those who are attacking the Church’s ancient practices.

In many places where services have continued and the faithful have continued to partake of Holy Communion, those who are ill-disposed to the holy Orthodox faith, including amongst media representatives, are loudly attacking the Church and its hierarchs, accusing them of putting people in danger, such as in Serbia and Ukraine, Romania, and in Georgia as well, as testified to by this recent statement from the Georgian Church.

While calling on the faithful to observe heightened sanitary practices, the Georgian Patriarchate asserts strongly that a ban on Church attendance is an unjustified offense against God, and that those who reject the Church’s Communion practices thereby reject Christ Himself.

“The current situation with the new Corona virus is said to be exacerbated,” causing false attacks against the Church despite its own efforts to adhere to and enforce the standards of the state and the National Center of Disease Control as much as possible, the statement begins.

The Georgian Church continues to urge:

* That those who are sick stay at home until they are completely healed, and that people maintain.....

[SmokingJoe]

Why put so much emphasis on people gathering in worship once a week, when there are far more people crowding in public transport, pharmacies, and grocery stores?

Maybe Cuomo can answer that. Or Whitmer.

[Wallace T.]

Orthodox believers in the former USSR have recent memories of 70 years of government oppression ranging from the murder of thousands of clergy, sometimes in manners that would have put Torquemada to shame, to desecrating churches. turning them into stables and grain silos. The American clergy have, with very few exceptions, have meekly submitted to the would be Ceasars in the state and local governments.

[ManHunter]

And you can bet your ass that your local government is not enforcing those edicts on your local mosque! That would be islamophobic...

[ManHunter]

And you can bet your ass that your local government is not enforcing those edicts on your local mosque! That would be islamophobic...