Services of Holy Week to take place in Metropolis of Korea without faithful

The restrictive measures in the Metropolis of Korea are extended due to the coronavirus spread.

As the Metropolis points out in an announcement, on March 19 it was announced that due to the coronavirus outbreak, the temples of the Metropolis will remain closed until Saturday, April 11 (Lazarus Saturday).“Unfortunately, however, we are very saddened to announce that the restrictive measures will be extended even further until we receive new instructions from the authorities of our country.”

In the announcement, all morning and evening services of Holy Week and Easter will be held in the churches only by the priests and their assistants.

“We ask you to please, for the sake of protecting your health and that of others, stay at home in prayer, and we urge you to follow the Holy Services, which will be broadcast live from St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seoul, in order for you to participate in the Holy Passion and the Glorious Resurrection of our Lord. We also encourage you to study the daily Bible readings of each day, as they appear on the Calendar of our Metropolis.”

The faithful are invited to celebrate Easter together in the churches on the night of May 26. On this day, forty days after Easter, the same service as the one at the night of the Resurrection will be held and the paschal hymn “Christ is Risen” will be chanted for the last time

It is recalled that a similar decision has been made by the Archdiocese of Athens for the celebration of Easter, if conditions permit, on the night of May 26.

The Metropolis of Korea also announces that the group baptisms scheduled for Lazarus Saturday will take place on Pentecost.

“Let us not lose hope in these difficult times, but let us listen to the Psalmist’s exhortation that we should have hope in the Lord all day long “from the watch of dawn until the night.” (Ps. 129:6).”

source: Orthodoxtimes.com