"Let's learn to be a church"

Appeal of Archpriest Alexei Uminsky

Publication of the portal "Orthodoxy and peace"

- Hello, my dear! I was asked to treat the pastoral word these days the sad Great Lent, which for us, all Christians of the world, today have become a real test. I mean not only Christians living in Russia, but throughout the world.

Many of our brothers found themselves in such conditions when the temples are closed, worships are not committed, parishioners cannot participate in the sacraments with priests. And this, indeed, is a great test for our faith and our church.

And, nevertheless, it is obvious that in conditions of the danger of coronavirus infection, like all reasonable people, we must be as attentive and careful as possible. And comply with all the necessary conditions and all the necessary requirements in order not to become the sources of the spread of this disease.

First of all, we, as Christians, should also think about those people who are more susceptible to this disease. Therefore, both the government of the country and the government of the city of Moscow turned to older people, people with chronic diseases, people who do not feel sufficiently strong and healthy - so that they observe the necessary quarantine and self -isolation. Including, this applies to visiting our temples, our worship.

For everyone, this is a difficult test: to lose worship, to lose the Eucharist. But, on the other hand, we must recall the words with which the Apostle Peter addresses us in his cathedral message: “You are a kind, royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2: 9). Thus, he shows that every Christian, regardless of whether he bears a hierarchical sanatorium or bishop, is the priest of God, both a man and a woman. And this means that he was given grace from God to perform his worship: to pray to God in home prayer, in his home church.

Just a few hours ago, I talked with my good friend who lives on the Holy Land, in Israel. And today I saw a very sad video where the doors of the temple of the Holy Sepulcher are closed. The Christians of the Holy Land are very worried that on the Great Saturday, on a day, which is traditionally so important for all Christians of the world, especially for those that came to the Holy Land, in order to receive gifts of a fertile fire, which, according to legend, goes to the coffin of the Lord that day. And now - the temple of the coffin of the Lord is closed. All temples are closed, worships are not performed. And now my good friend said an amazing thing: "We are all learning to be a small church now." How great he said. The family, which was without the opportunity to visit the temple, today is really learning to be a church.

Each of us should learn this amazing science, which seemed to us before the non -obvious - open temples, affordable services, the liturgy is performed regularly, on Sundays, on holidays. Many of us, Christians, are used to it as if nothing depends on us. He wanted - he came to the temple, wanted - he did not come. He wanted to - prepared for the sacrament, wanted - did not prepare for the sacrament. Many of us did not feel the special value of this in our life, including church, including spiritual, prayer. Until some moment. And today, it turns out, this moment has come.

The moment of understanding has come: what does prayer mean to me? What does the church mean to me? What is a worship? How can I participate in this worship in the conditions of quarantine, shutter. We know such a feat of Christians, monks who went into the shutter in order to learn exactly there - to hear God, to feel God, and - to know God.

There is such a moment when we had an unexpected opportunity to take a different look at our religiosity, at the attitude to temple prayer, to our personal prayer and worship.

Once again I want to remind the words of the Apostle Peter, addressed to each of us: "You are a kind of chosen, royal priesthood, the saint people, people taken into the destiny." (1 Pet. 2: 9).

We are a church not only when we gather together for prayer to the temple, not only when we go to Sunday service, when we fulfill some religious regulations known for us. We are a church because we are the body of Christ and because we belong to him anywhere, anytime, because we are his family chosen by him.

Therefore, today I want to contact all Orthodox Christians once again: let's learn to be a church. Let's learn to be humble, be patient, be neat, careful. “Stew how dangerously go” (Eph. 5:15), ”says the apostle Pavel.

Indeed, we must be careful: each of us at any moment, God forbid, can become a source of illness for the weakest, for a person who may not transfer this disease. Therefore, the words addressed to all people, and to us Christians - so that we, if possible, abstain from visiting crowded meetings, crowded services, so that we can perform our worship at home. For example, when almost everything is closed to us, many people do not go to work, this is a great time to finally start reading the Holy Scriptures, to delve into the gospel word. Just take and see - what readings of the Old Testament are read in everyday services - this can be taken from the church calendar, and reading, participating in the services of the house.

On Wednesday, April 1, we can at home, very prayerly, deeply, carefully, in no hurry, delving into every word, read the repentant canon of Andrei of Cretsky on the day of the standing of Maria Egyptian. We have the opportunity to read the canon in different versions - and to Church Slavonic, translated into Russian, so that we understand.

We can also sing with the real faith next Saturday, a true love for the Mother of God Akathist on the day of the praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nothing prevents us from everyday services at home.

And, of course, everyone has the opportunity to invite a priest to his home in order to participate in home prayer and participate with his family or individuals of the Holy Mysteries and participate in the sacrament of co -sir.

I contact you again. Let's take care of each other, love each other, hear the warnings that belong to us. We do this not because our faith is weak. We are just experiencing our faith, how strong it is, how much we are able to be a church in such conditions. And, if possible, observing all precautions, do not leave at home for no particular reasons. Keep you the Lord!

Father Alexei Uminsky, rector of the Holy Trinity Church in Hokhlah