Communique of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Regarding
the latest recommendations of the Government of Serbia, in order to
suppress the spread of the COVID-19 virus, "religious services in
churches and in the open air are to be performed without the presence of
the faithful", with the clarification that the aim of these
recommendations is a safe way of worship and the protection of public
health, all the while enabling worship to continue, we inform all our
clergy, monastics, and faithful that the Serbian Orthodox Church will
implement these recommendations, as it has already done in those
countries of the Serbian diaspora and other regions where such
protective measures have been taken a few days ago. The Church will not
interrupt the serving of the Divine Liturgy or cease communing the
faithful, because this is a matter which cannot be debated: it is the
basis of our faith in the Living God. Specifically, this means that
during the services in the church there is to be a priest (or priests)
with a deacon, chanter, and an altar server (according to the need and
circumstance).