Metropolitan Paul: Priests and doctors must help each other

Abbot of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra Metropolitan Pavel. Photo: a video screenshot of the YouTube channel “Pravoslavny Visnyk” (“Orthodox Herald”)

The brotherhood of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra continues to pray for the entire Ukrainian people, providing all possible assistance to those who need it, said the abbot of the monastery.

Today, priests and doctors are in the same risk zone and should help each other, says the abbot of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan Pavel of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl. Vladyka told the edition “Pravoslavny Visnyk” (“Orthodox Herald”) about how life goes on in the monastery under the coronavirus epidemic.

“We have prepared places so that we could accept the sick in the monasteries in case, God forbid, of great misfortune, - we are ready,” the hierarch said. “We give out masks – people give them to us, and we sew themselves as far as we understand and have materials. <...> Today, nurses who live far away are already accommodated  in the monastery, now we are bringing in medical suits, gloves – everything we can do to serve people.”

According to Met. Pavel, the Lavra "accepts notes, prays, and shows everyone that it is necessary to unite". In response to the request of the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky, services at the Dormition Cathedral and the Refectory Church of the Lavra will be broadcast online, "there will be up to 10 brothers who will serve so that people can pray". The Metropolitan also said that daily in the Far and Near Caves, blessing-the-water prayers are served near the relics of healers, "so that the Lord will save our Ukraine, all our people".

“Once again, I urge you, dear brothers and sisters, to deliberate actions. You mustn’t fear – come what may. But we need to follow medical instructions, they shouldn’t be neglected. <...> Let us pray, every minute ask the Lord for deliverance from this terrible misfortune so that the children do not get sick, that the Lord will save young and older people. This is an example of our love, our unity, and our mutual understanding, ”summed up Metropolitan Pavel.

As reported, on March 23, 2020, with the blessing of the Primate of the UOC, His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine, the vicar bishops, abbots and abbesses of the monasteries of the Kyiv Eparchy developed a plan of action to combat the spread of coronavirus.

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