Important Message from Metropolitan Alexios
March 16, 2020
To the Reverend Monastics & Clergy
The Esteemed Archons, Parish Councils, Philoptochos Societies, and Faithful of the Metropolis of Atlanta: My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Esteemed Archons, Parish Councils, Philoptochos Societies, and Faithful of the Metropolis of Atlanta: My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
I greet you with love and joy in the
name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I pray that this message finds you
well, as we journey to the halfway point of Great Lent!
The ever-changing situation surrounding
the COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the Coronavirus) means that your
Metropolis wishes to offer you appropriate updates concerning how this disease
will have an impact on our daily lives, including aspects of our liturgical and
sacramental lives.
This past Saturday the Archbishop and
Holy Eparchial Synod of our Archdiocese had a teleconference, and discussed:
the 2,000 year history and experience of our earthly Church, our expectations
for the spiritual and physical well-being of all, as well as abiding by
recommendations and directives of various State and Local government agencies.
The CDC has recently issued a statement
instructing those hosting large gatherings to either consider postponing their
events for at least eight weeks—or, as an alternative, to limit the number
of people in attendance. We are mindful of the importance of doing our part
to limit the potential spread of this disease, both as parishes, and as a
Metropolis. We understand at this moment, that our obligations as Orthodox
Christians are to put into practice the directives of the scientific community,
while still honoring our Holy Tradition by encouraging the health and safety of
our community.
In times such as these, I wish to
stress the importance of individual discernment. Regarding any choice you make
for church attendance, or anything else, examine your heart. Ask yourself: Am I
healthy? Am I ill? Do I have health risks? Am I exposing others and myself
unnecessarily? Etc.
Therefore, be mindful that you are part
of a family, and that any decisions you make will impact not only your
immediate family but society at large. Or, simply to put in action the
commandment of our Lord, “You shall love the Lord your God...and your
neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
Please also remember that if you or a
family member feels the need to abstain from any liturgical gatherings, the
Church in its loving practice, always prays and thinks of the people who are
“absent” for good cause. (Taken from the Liturgy of St. Basil) We encourage
those whose communities have live-streaming capabilities to participate in the
Liturgy in the safety of their homes.
If anyone wishes not to come to church,
the Holy Eparchial Synod extends this blessing, as such a decision is not a
sin, but an act of love and responsibility for one’s self and their fellow
human beings in order to comply with the guidelines of the CDC for social and
group gatherings. We encourage the faithful to participate in the experience of
scared worship at home, on TV, or using multimedia platforms.
Continuing in this spirit of love and
discernment, what follows are the official Metropolis guidelines for the bodily
and spiritual well-being of all during this time:
1.
All
non-liturgical activities are to be suspended until further notice. This
includes, but is not limited to:
·
Youth
Ministries like Day Schools, Greek Schools, Catechetical Schools, HOPE/JOY,
GOYA, OCF, Young Adult, and Hellenic Dance
·
Adult
Education Classes or Bible Studies
·
Philoptochos
·
All
ministries intended for seniors
·
Luncheons,
speakers, Hellenic Fraternal Organizations and social gatherings (i.e. Book
Clubs)
·
Athletic
Activities
·
Service
Projects
(Should
your parish have the means to conduct Bible Studies over video, you may
technology until in-person events can be resumed)
2.
If
your parish has more than one Chant Stand, each stand should have only ONE
Chanter or Choir Member. Your Chanter or Choir Member should take the place of
all choirs (Mixed Gender, Youth, or Men’s) during the services
3.
The
passing of trays will be suspended, and the means to make an offering should be
available through US Mail or online giving.
4.
As
for the Memorials, please write the names of your deceased to the clergy so
that they can pray for the souls (without Kolyva).
5.
Funerals
shall be limited to the immediate family, and there will be neither visitations
the evening before, nor makarias following the service.
6.
In
the event that the Sacrament of Baptism cannot be postponed, this service should
also be limited just to the immediate family, with gatherings being avoided.
7.
For
these safety precautions to be effective, those attending church should
immediately leave when the service is finished. For the sake of others, please
do not socialize in the Narthex. Additionally, Sunday Coffee Fellowship hours
should also be suspended until further notice.
8.
Parishioners
in the hospitals, or shut-ins will be supported during this time as well.
9.
Parish
Council and ministry meetings should continue to meet as normally scheduled and
should only be conducted through conference calls or video conferencing.
10.
Offices
should remain open for their normal hours—but all business should be conducted
over phone or by email.
Being mindful of the fact that some of
our parishioners do not have access to email, we ask that their family members
please disseminate this information to those who might not have received it.
Even if we cannot be present inside the
church itself, we too can remain close to our Lord through prayer. I would like
all of us—monastics, clergy and laity—to set a time each evening at 8 PM EST
for the next few weeks until the Saturday of Lazarus, to use the attached
prayer so that collectively we will unite our hearts and prayers to Almighty
God, as the early Christians did: “So Peter was kept in prison, but the
church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)
As we are in the time of the Feast of
the Veneration of the Holy Cross, let us pray for one another and with this,
I remain,
Paternally and prayerful yours,
Paternally and prayerful yours,
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta