In
the Synodical Palace today [30th March 2020] there was a meeting
between His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte and the
metropolitan bishops with the Vice Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev,
Prof. General Ventsislav Mutafchiysky and Mr. Emil Velinov, Director of
the Directorate of Ecclesiastical Matters at the Council of Ministers,
on the occasion of the present state of emergency in our country because
of the corona virus pandemic.
During the meeting the
representatives of the government and of the National Operations
Headquarters clarified the situation in the world and in our country to
date, a number of issues were discussed in relation to the religious and
devotional life in Bulgaria, as well as the need for organizing the
celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.
The Holy Synod
acquainted the representatives of the National Operations Headquarters
with the measures that have been taken by now and with the decisions
undertaken today [30th March 2020] , and namely:
1. The Holy Synod
blesses and supports completely the efforts of the state institutions
directed towards protecting the life and health of the Bulgarian nation.
2.
The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church – Bulgarian
Patriarchate, in accordance with the requirements of the state
institutions, calls on the Christian believers to stay at their homes.
3.
All the churches within the diocese of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church –
Bulgarian Patriarchate remain open and in them there are going to be
served all the services assigned for the Holy Quadragesima.
4. The
rite of giving Holy Communion remains unaltered. The clergymen are
obliged to give with a particular caution the Holy Communion only to
those Orthodox Christians who have confessed to them and whom they know
personally.
5. If sick people, who cannot visit the church, want
to take Holy Communion, they shall be given reserved Holy Gifts, as the
respective measures for this shall be taken by the clergymen, as is the
established practice in the Church.
6. Disinfectants shall be used
and personal hygiene shall be maintained, the floors of the churches
shall be cleaned regularly with the respective detergents, the icons
shall be wiped, carpets, strips of carpets, etc. shall be removed from
the churches’ interior for easier disinfection, the seating places shall
be cleaned every few hours. Mats soaked with disinfectant shall be
placed at the entrances of the churches, which shall be maintained damp
during all the working hours.
7. The church servants with minor orders shall use personal protective measures (masks, gloves, disinfectants).
8. The lay people visiting the churches shall use protective masks, as well as they shall observe the regulated distance.
9.
The priests who have even the slightest signs of a health indisposition
shall abstain from divine services, about which they shall inform their
metropolitan bishop.
10. The Sacraments Holy Baptism and Holy
Matrimony shall be performed with a limited number of people, strictly
following the requirements.
11. The funeral service of a diceased person shall be performed outdoors, with the presence of only the closest relatives.
12.
The Holy Synod calls on the clergymen and the God-protected flock to
enhance their spiritual ascesis in repentance, fasting, prayer, vigil,
confession and unity to the Body and Blood of Christ.
13. The Holy
Synod expresses their gratitude and extends prayers to God, the Giver
of all, for the government, the doctors, the nurses and the medical
workers, for all the other social servants – policemen, military
servants, transport officers, shop assistants, all those who expose
themselves to risk in order for our daily life to be preserved within
the possible limits.
At the end of the reception, Patriarch
Neophyte expressed his hope that with God’s help and with our common
efforts the crisis would be overcome quickly and very soon we would go
back to our daily way of life in prayer to God in the church and with
spiritual joy we would celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.