Belgrade – Believers of the Serbian Orthodox Church will for the first time welcome the upcoming Easter, which falls on April 19, without going to church, due to the ban on moving around throughout the weekend that applies to everyone. The ban was introduced because of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.
Belgrade – Believers of the Serbian Orthodox Church will for the first time welcome the upcoming Easter, which falls on April 19, without going to church, due to the ban on moving around throughout the weekend that applies to everyone. The ban was introduced because of the ongoing coronavirus epidemic.
The curfew, which begins at 5pm on Friday and runs until 5am on Monday, will be in force in the coming week, too, meaning that people will spend Orthodox Easter at their homes next week. This was announced by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, when he said that citizens should prepare for the fact that there would be no family gatherings for Easter.
Although the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) has not yet formally instructed believers how to mark Easter because of the newly developed situation, a representative of the SOC said that believers would have the opportunity to watch the Easter liturgy from their homes on one of RTS channels, as well as on TV Temple channel, while they would be able to have communion at their homes on Good Friday until 5pm or on Monday, the second day of Easter or at the time when the curfew was not in force.
“On Good Friday, believers will be able to attend the service, but will have to comply with the measures of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Two believers will be able to enter the church, then another two and so on. They will be able to be at the port of the church or temple. They should observe the measure of a two-meter distance between them and not make any crowds. A priest will also be appointed to check that the measures are being followed, and the police, too, will be able to do the same. This will apply to the liturgies that will be served for Easter Monday and Tuesday”, said the SOC representative.
He also said that believers would have to wear protective masks and gloves and that those who failed to do so would be sent back to their homes.
“There will also be midnight liturgies on one of RTS cannels and on TV Temple channel on Easter. The liturgies will be held without believers, and will be served where priests reside, at the port of the church, as well as in the monasteries where the monks live”, said the SOC representative.
Source: OK Radio and Coordination Body
