“And so it was, when Jesus
had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He
taught them as one having authority, and not like the scribes”.
(Mat. 7:28-29)
Watch below the video and read the text of the Message
addressed to the faithful of the Orthodox Church by Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew, on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, about the coronavirus pandemic.
***
Brother hierarchs and
beloved children in the Lord,
From the Phanar, from the
heart of the Queen of Cities, from the City of the Great Church and of Haghia
Sophia, we are communicating with each and every one of you – women, men, and
children – because of the unprecedented conditions and tribulation that we are
facing as a human race as a result of the global threat posed by the pandemic
of the new coronavirus, called Covid-19.
The voice of the Church, of
the Mother Church, cannot be silent in such times. Our words, then, take the
form we have learned through the ages: through the liturgy and through
instruction, with encouragement and consolation.
We sincerely thank all those
who struggle with self-sacrifice, even neglecting themselves and their
families, including:
- Medical and nursing
professionals at the front lines, beside our brothers and sisters who are
suffering,
- Researchers and scientists
searching for proper medication and vaccination to deliver us from this virus,
but also
- All those actively working
hard to address this pandemic.
Your contribution is
invaluable. It is an offering to all of society. It is a sacrifice that
deserves every honor and gratitude. All of us thank you and applaud you, not
only from the windows of our homes, but everywhere and at all times. Our
thoughts and our prayers are with you.
In this struggle, our
appointed states, governments and appropriate health authorities have the
primary responsibility for planning, confronting and overcoming this crisis. We
might describe them as Commanders on the battlefield against an invisible, but
now well-known, enemy. An enemy that has turned against humanity.
The burden of the
responsibility, that they bear on their shoulders, by necessity demands the
cooperation of us all. Now is the time of personal and social responsibility.
Therefore, our dear
children, we entreat you as your spiritual father to respond faithfully and
patiently to all the difficult but necessary measures proposed by our health
authorities and nations. Everything is being done for our protection, for our
common good, in order to contain the spread of this virus. Our liberation from
this distress depends entirely on our own cooperation.
Perhaps some of you have
felt that these drastic measures undermine or harm our faith.
However, that which is at stake
is not our faith – it is the
faithful.
It is not Christ – it is our
Christians.
It is not the divine-man –
but human beings.
Our faith is firmly
established in the roots of our culture. 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.
We will pass through this
period like a journey through the desert to reach the Promised Land, where
science, by the grace of God, will overcome this virus.
We are certain that, through
our prayers as well, science will indeed prevail. So it is good for us to
remain united in spirit, as we continue the struggle of repentance and
holiness.
We see our neighbors
suffering from the consequences of the virus, while others have already fallen
and departed from among us. Our Church hopes and prays for the healing of the
sick, for the souls of the departed, and for courage and strength to the
families of the afflicted.
This trial, too, shall pass.
The clouds will clear, and the Sun of Righteousness will eliminate the deadly
effect of the virus. But our lives will have changed forever. This trial is an
opportunity for us to change for the better. In the direction of establishing
love and solidarity.
Beloved children in the
Lord, may the blessing of the Lord, through the intercessions of the All-Holy
Mother of God, accompany us in our journey, transform our voluntary isolation
into genuine communion, and become our prayer and destination to appreciate the
meaning of this, so that we may return to that which is true, to that which is
pleasing to God!
Have courage! And may God be
with us!
