Orthodox Church issues guidelines on Coronavirus

HEALTH    RELIGION

The Metropolitan of the Orthodox Metropolis of Kampala and Uganda, His Eminence Jonah Lwanga has issued guidelines that members of the Church will observe during the month-long ban of religious gatherings that President Museveni announced on Wednesday.

Speaking to Orthodox clergy during a health workshop at St. Nicholas Orthodox Community Centre, Namungoona (Rubaga Division) on Friday, Lwanga said the Church will fully cooperate with the government to ensure that members of the Church and all Ugandans are protected from the deadly virus.

He said the Sunday Divine Liturgy will still be observed with all its authentic rituals, in all Orthodox Churches, but it will be graced by only three people: the presiding priest, an acolyte, and a cantor.

Lwanga later advised the Christians to maintain high standards of hygiene as one of the ways to keep coronavirus out of the country.

The Executive Director of Uganda Orthodox Medical Bureau, Dr. Sande George Binna (right) with some Orthodox clerics during the sensitization workshop on Coronavirus

 
The Prelate refuted claims that coronavirus was unleashed by God to punish human beings, arguing that God created only goodness and wished his people well.

Lwanga thanked the government for being open about the virus and for taking appropriate measures to stop its spread.

The Orthodox Bishop of Gulu, His Grace Silvestros Kisitu delivers his remarks during a health conference

 
He also paid tribute to the medics who he said were making enormous sacrifices to protect Ugandans from the scourge.

The Bishop of the Orthodox diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda, His Grace Silvestros Kisitu asked Christians not to be heart-broken by the ban on religious gatherings, but to continue worshiping God in their hearts as they also pray for the virus to be effectively checked and eradicated.

The Orthodox Prelates issued their guidelines following a presentation of the Executive Director of the Uganda Orthodox Medical Bureau, Dr. Sande George Binna, who also asked Christians and all Ugandans to observe high standards of hygiene and also, to have a balanced healthy diet, which included Vitamin C foods.

Orthodox clerics and nuns at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, Namungoona