Dear Parishioners,
Here are instructions from the Bishop on our Re-opening day for Public Services:
Before anything else Bishop has said this:
We are a community of faith. This means that being together is an essential element of our identity. Whatever is forcing us apart can never be accepted as normal for the Church. We must pray God fervently that he may overcome all that separates us from one another, whatever the cause. We must bear in mind at all times that the COVID-19 pandemic is still with us, and that the number of cases and deaths continues to increase.
Services:
The public celebration of Divine Services may commence as early as Great Vespers (where it is served) on the evening of May 30, beginning the celebration of the great feast of Pentecost on the new calendar. The maximum number of people must not exceed the lesser of 50% of the building’s fire department rated capacity, or whatever lower limit may be required by law (on regular basis we have between 60-90 people at liturgy – in our Cathedral we can sit around 220 – so we are within the numbers given by the Bishop for one service).
So, you may choose to come to either Vespers Service on Saturday, May 30 at 6:30 p.m. or at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday May 31st at 10:00 a.m.
Each parishioner is encouraged to take their temperatures prior to coming to church. Any parishioner with a temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) should stay home. Anyone not feeling well should stay home. If you do not have a thermometer – we have one available here at the Church just in case you would like to check your temperature.
In particular, parishioners older than 65 and those with underlying health conditions that render them particularly susceptible to a more severe case of COVID-19, such as obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney, lung, or liver conditions, or who are currently or have recently undergone chemotherapy or any other treatment that reduces the body’s ability to fight infection are strongly urged to remain at home and continue to share in the liturgy via live-stream. The dispensation from the obligation to attend Divine Liturgy on Sunday and holy days remains in effect until further notice.
Before Liturgy:
The faithful are obliged to wear a mask (or other face covering) upon entering the church and during the celebration of Divine Liturgy, except for the brief moment of receiving Holy Communion. A supply of disposable masks should be kept by the parish (though not left out in the open) in the event that someone arrives without a face covering. The only exception would be persons who are legitimately prevented from wearing masks for medical reasons, and any children under the age of two, for whom the wearing of masks poses a suffocation hazard. It should be understood by everyone that the wearing of a face covering does not necessarily protect you; it protects everyone else from you. If someone does not care enough about the health of others to do this, one may legitimately wonder what that person is doing in a Christian assembly in the first place.
When you enter the Church the door will be opened for you so you do not have to touch anything – so it will happen at the end of the Liturgy as you will exit the Church. Please take your time and don’t rush.
Middle isle is use as the entrance in the Church – side isles are used as exits isles from the Church.
Ushers – we will have trained ushers who will open the doors at the Church for you and show you to the place you will be able to sit. Please consider the fact that you will not be seated at the same place where you normally sit!! You will be seated at least six feet from one another as individuals or from one family to another. We will not separate the families that live together. They may sit together in Church – but they do have to be separated from other families!
You will receive (or take) a booklet from Narthex table or from the Usher – that booklet will be yours for the time being. There will not be booklets in the pews, and we would ask that you take your book back home with you and bring it again back when you come to Church.
During Liturgy:
The masks should remain on for the duration of the service as mentioned above – just when receiving communion, the masks will come off for a short period as to receive and go back on immediately after.
If you would like to light a candle(or more) you may do so – with social distancing again in mind – we have the two stands at the front of the Church, close to the altar, where 2 people may be there lighting candles. If when returning to your pew cannot be done safely through the side do the best you can but still maintain social distancing. Usually people have been lighting candles as they entered the Church – I would highly encourage that so that when you make that trip down the isle you make it only once before Communion.
There will be NO kissing of touching of icons for the time being – you will see signs there – please follow those signs.
There will be no kiss of peace or shaking hands at the time designated for that in the Liturgy.
Communion – everyone who would like to receive communion will come pew by pew forming only one line and maintaining six feet apart between individuals or families. When approaching the chalice (but not before), the communicant is to pull his or her mask below the chin, tilt the head back somewhat and open the mouth wide. It is not the custom in the Byzantine rite for the communicant to say “Amen,” - the Priest does say the formula for the communion being assisted by the deacon. After receiving communion and making the sign of cross the person will return to their pew by the way of side isles.
The collections baskets will be placed at the entrance at the nave at the church. You may put your envelops at the beginning or at the end of the service.
After Liturgy
The custom of the faithful coming forward to venerate the cross and greet the priest sadly, is suspended for the time being. Instead, families should exit the church in an organized manner, continuing to wear their masks and maintaining distance between them and other households until they are in their cars. This process of relieving the people will be done by myself. I will dismiss each pew, one by one, and greet the people while maintaining distance – I am going to wear a mask at that time as well!. There should be no physical contact, such as a handshake or hug. We will figure out how to safely give you a bulletin at the end of the Liturgy – more announcements about that at the end of the Liturgy!
These are specifics that Bishop insisted we follow here at the Cathedral!
Tomorrow, Friday May, 29, 2020 – we will do a video explanation – thus showing you several aspects on what you will need to do as you come to Church and post in on our website for you to see. I’m pretty sure those will help you as you come to Church!
Lets use our best judgement for the time being and think of one another’s well being as we go through this time of Coronavirus pandemic – so that we may come at the end of it all together safe and sound and especially all of us healthy!!
Look forward to seeing all of you either this Saturday at Vespers at 6:30 p.m. or Sunday at morning at 10:00 a.m.
In Christ,
Fr. Ovidiu
Rector