Zhirinovsky's party received a tough response to the call to close Russian churches
The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia called on the Russian Orthodox Church to cancel all mass events, services and prayers, which, according to parliamentarians, violate quarantine measures and endanger the lives of parishioners, their relatives and loved ones, until the end of the coronavirus pandemic declared by WHO.
The corresponding appeal was published by the LDPR press service, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“We are glad that many confessions have already met the authorities halfway and are complying with quarantine conditions: they have stopped all services in their churches. I would like the Orthodox to do the same. But for now, the Russian Orthodox Church continues services, communions, and believers kiss icons and relics.
This cannot be done now; the strictest quarantine standards must be observed. Today, the only way to stop the pandemic is self-isolation. And when hundreds of people gather in one room, even for the best purposes, this is not self-isolation, but collectivization, which contributes to the spread of the virus.
In this regard, we call on the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church to follow the same path as Muslims, Catholics and other faiths,” the message says.
The former leader of the Kyiv Anti-Maidan, press secretary of the international public organization World Russian People's Council, journalist Yuri Kot responded to the liberal democrats.
“Dear liberal democrats, let me remind you that the Russian Orthodox Church from time immemorial has carried out its witness service, without denying anyone spiritual nourishment and full participation in its Sacraments. As you understand, it is impossible to refuse believers their desire to receive communion, kiss icons and relics.
A churchgoer should not succumb to fears or panic associated with the general hysteria fanned around unverified information about this infection. And you shouldn’t do this,” said Kot.
He emphasized that the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church at the highest level took all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of citizens. Thus, the Holy Synod decided to strengthen sanitary and hygienic measures in churches, and Patriarch Kirill called for fulfilling all medical requirements.
“In turn, to increase the safety of Russian citizens, we suggest that the LDPR party abandon its own campaigning during the coronavirus epidemic and not use the current tragedy for self-promotion,” the journalist concluded.
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