Orthodox Christians are preparing to mark this week the most
important holiday of the Christian world - Resurrection Sunday. The
festive feeling is eclipsed by the tragedy of the situation and
quarantine restrictions imposed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, we cannot traditionally gather at Holy Week liturgies and
personally greet one another in temples at Easter services. We are aware
that isolation, together with our deep faith and sincere prayer, will
overcome evil.
On the eve of Resurrection Sunday, His All-Holiness Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew spoke in an exclusive interview with Ukrinform
about the philosophy of existence in times of crisis, the lessons of the
current situation, and about how believers should behave amid the
pandemic in everyday life and while celebrating Easter.
'SOCIAL DISTANCING' IS NOW A WAY OF CARING FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
Question: Your All-Holiness, the greatest Orthodox holiday of
Easter is approaching. Would You be so kind to recall times from the
history of Christianity when believers could not attend holy ordinances
and perform sacraments for objective reasons? How have these obstacles
been overcome in the past?
Answer: Easter is indeed the feast of feasts, the night that St.
Gregory of Nyssa describes as “brighter than any day.” It is the source
of all other feasts and the center of our liturgical calendar, the feast
that gives meaning to our faith and life. This is why it is so vital
and crucial for Christians all over the world.
There have indeed been occasions in the past when Christians have
been unable to celebrate Easter. History has experienced pandemics and
plagues. And Christianity has experienced persecution and punishment. We
need only think of the periods of oppression and martyrdom – both in
the early Christian Church, but also in more recent times. The
difference today is that we are aware of science and medicine, which in
the case of the pandemic of COVID-19 propose a self-isolation for the
protection of our lives.
In the early Church, monasticism was described as “white martyrdom”
in contrast to the “blood martyrdom” of the martyrs. Today, our moral
decision as human beings in accepting “social distancing” is a way of
confronting the virus and caring for our neighbor.
Question: There is much debate now about whether sacraments can
become a source of infection. What is the best way now for communion,
confession, baptism, church marriage, etc.?
Answer: It is tempting, but also a form of escapism to dwell on the
details of sacramental life. In the Middle Ages, scholars and
superstition thrived on discussing topics such as the exact moment when
the bread and wine were transformed into Christ’s body and blood, and
how precisely a confession or baptism was valid or invalid.
As we indicated in one of our addresses to the faithful, what is at
stake is not our identity as believers, but only our identity as human
beings that “bear flesh and dwell in the world;” Our faith is a living
faith, and there is no exceptional circumstance that can limit or
suppress it. What must be limited and suppressed in these extraordinary
circumstances are gatherings and large congregations of people. Let us
remain in our homes. Let us be careful and protect those around us. And
there, from our homes, strengthened by the power of our spiritual unity,
let each and every one of us pray for all humankind.
THE WORLD HAS ABRUPTLY CHANGED, JUST LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP OF ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS WITH THE CHURCH
Question: In Ukraine, we have examples when some churches and
their leaders do not adhere to general quarantine rules, exposing the
lives of believers to danger. Is there the responsibility for such
actions in the church world?
Answer: As Orthodox Christians, it is important that we remember not
simply our personal or pious obligations, but also our communal and
social responsibility. The success of those working so hard to respond
to and overcome COVID-19 depends on our participation and cooperation.
This is an invaluable contribution to all of society, a sacrifice
equally worthy of praise and gratitude as those fighting this battle on
the front lines.
Question: How should practicing Christians behave during the
quarantine? What tips for maintaining spiritual and moral stability can
You give?
Answer: We speak of this time as a crisis – from the Greek word
κρίσις – which means that we will be judged by our response to the
circumstances that we face. This is an opportunity for us to learn
life-changing and world-transforming lessons.
All of us recognize that what we previously considered “normal” in
our world or “routine” in our life has been shattered and turned upside
down. What we were accustomed to, what we have taken pleasure in, has
abruptly changed or stopped. No longer can we take even the simplest
things for granted. For us as Orthodox Christians, this also applies to
our relationship with the church and, above all, with God. We can no
longer take traditional or conventional ways for granted – like
attending a service, lighting a candle, kissing the icons, singing with
the choir, lining up for communion.
In this crisis, then, we have learned that the church is more than
just a building. We have discovered that each of our homes and families
are called to become and to be what St. John Chrysostom describes as a
“small church” (ἐκκλησία μικρά) – not just in name, but in actual
practice. We should all be thankful for this precious lesson to our Lord
who assures us: “where two or three are gathered together in My name, I
am there in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). Indeed, Jesus Christ is
closer to us than we to ourselves.
THE CHURCH MUST NOT BE AFRAID OF THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Question: Now we can see many examples of the “transition” of
the church to the online mode. Is this a positive practice in Your
opinion? Will there be a live broadcast of the festive Easter service
from the Ecumenical Patriarchate?
Answer: One of the positive outcomes of this universal challenge is
that we must now think deliberately and creatively about our
relationships to one another. Working together from a distance, through
the diverse means of modern technology, has provided not only the
possibility of supporting one another as a means of consolation and
survival but also of advancing our dreams and programs as a way of
cooperation and progress.
We are deeply encouraged to learn of new ways ventured by churches,
which were previously reserved toward such changes. After all, we are a
living tradition, and the Body of Christ is an organic, vibrant
community. We must always be attentive but never afraid in our use of
technology, which must be employed as a means for the benefit of the
people of God.
So, we rejoice when we hear of the diverse ways with which churches
are responding to their vocation at this critical moment. We are
delighted to see how they are uniting their efforts in addressing their
faithful and focusing their attention on their pastoral needs.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate will indeed broadcast the Easter vigil
from the Phanar, as well as all the services throughout Holy and Great
Week.
THIS CRISIS HAS REMINDED US THAT THE WORLD IS LARGER THAN ANY SINGLE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
Question: What lessons do You think we all need to learn from
this situation of a common threat to humanity and a common
confrontation with it?
Answer: The lessons that all of us have learned will prove
indispensable when we emerge from this crisis. We have been reminded
that the world is larger than our individual interests and concerns,
larger than our jurisdictional parishes and congregations, larger than
any single church or religious community.
We have realized that we must always do something more than what only
affects our lives or our families. We have admired the doctors and
nurses, who sacrifice their lives for the healing of others. We have
witnessed those working in grocery stores and pharmacies, those driving
trucks and delivering goods, and especially those volunteering their
time or donating their money for our more vulnerable brothers and
sisters. All these actions of selfless love exude the fragrance of the
Resurrection.
Ultimately, we have learned what the Scriptures and Saints have
always known and declared – that “whoever does not love their brother,
whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 Jn
4:20).
Permit us to close with our wholehearted and fervent wishes to all
the people in Ukraine – to those who have already celebrated Easter on
April 12 and to those who are celebrating Pascha on April 19 – our
sincerest paternal wishes on the “feast of feasts” at this challenging
time. Christ is Risen, my beloved brothers and sisters, my dearest
families and children. The clouds of darkness and shadow of death have
been overcome by His Resurrection. Χριστός Ἀνέστη!
Olga Budnyk, Istanbul-Ankara* You can watch the services from the Ecumenical Patriarchate live on Facebook.