A religious procession in central Russia aimed at fighting the coronavirus has been canceled due to the threat of the virus itself.
Lipetsk and several other Russian cities have temporarily banned mass events in an effort to stop the pandemic from spreading further. The Lipetsk region’s governor this week announced a “high alert” status in the region after three people there were diagnosed with the virus, ordering anyone who has recently visited high-risk countries to self quarantine for two weeks.
Members of the Russian Orthodox Church in Lipetsk had planned to stage the March 15 procession in an effort to fight the virus with prayer. Worshippers planned to recite an akathist, or Orthodox hymn, at a cathedral in central Lipetsk before continuing their procession by car into the Lipetsk region.
The procession’s organizer, Yury Bernikov, announced the cancellation on Thursday in connection with the ban on mass events, saying worshippers will have to pray for coronavirus patients’ recovery from their own homes or churches instead.
Let’s hope prayers made in private are as effective as those made in public.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
