Yesterday, the Holy Synod and Archbishop Michael issued statements regarding the coronavirus outbreak. In an archpastoral letter, Metropolitan Tikhon reinforced the need to respect civil quarantines to “flatten the curve” out of love and concern for our brothers and sisters. In the act of congregating itself, the virus has an opportunity to spread; even if none of us become ill, we may transmit it beyond our community, and even if a fraction of the people who come into contact with the virus become ill, it will easily overwhelm the medical system.
Fr. John spoke with Archbishop Michael last night, and with his blessing, we are cancelling the Presanctified Liturgy scheduled for tonight (March 18). The Diocese has published materials on how to pray a “reader’s service” tonight in your own home, in front of your icon corner, below.
We are thankful to the Diocese for publishing this service, as well as other “reader’s services” which can be found below. Lent is always a chance to reinforce our private prayer lives – this one especially.
Service of prayer for protection against coronavirus:
https://nynjoca.org/files/2020/covid-19/covid-19-prayer-service.pdf
Reader’s Vespers for Wednesday, March 18:
https://nynjoca.org/files/2020/praying-at-home/Vespers-Wed-03-18-2020.pdf
Reader’s Vespers from Saturday night:
https://nynjoca.org/files/2020/praying-at-home/Vespers.pdf
Suggestions for setting up an icon corner in your home (this icon corner is also known as the “little church”):
https://blogs.ancientfaith.com/behind-the-scenes/2016/12/05/little-church-foundations-icon-corner/
Vladyka Michael’s archpastoral letter for the beginning of Lent, regarding how to establish a schedule for praying at home:
https://nynjoca.org/files/2020/ap-letters/Archpastoral-Letter-for-the-Great-Fast-2020.pdf