His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, encouraged people to seek strength in the faith in order to overcome the alienation connected with the spread of the coronavirus infection, and, while not neglecting medical prescriptions, not to lose the ability to do good deeds, reports Patriarchia.ru.
In his sermon on the Adoration of the Cross Sunday of Great Lent, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church told those present that “sometimes, when there is a general danger, human ties are destroyed, everyone begins to think only about themselves. And sometimes it leads to public collapse.”
“Despite this infection, which provokes alienation, we should not forget about our neighbors, while preserving all the necessary medical prescriptions in order not to be carriers. We should assist them to the best of our ability. And today, elderly and lonely people especially need it,” he emphasized.
“Why does the Lord let this contagion affect many people? The Lord calls on our self-confident technological civilization … to assess the limits of its capabilities and realize the fragility of this civilization,” the Patriarch noted.
“It is as if the Lord shows us: with all your might, you are very fragile, you are really weak. In addition to your own strength, you should rely – not only in times of cataclysm, but in general every day of your life – on My help, on the force that exceeds all human strength,” Patriarch Kirill stressed.
The Primate of the Russian Church expressed his attitude towards those who encourage people to refuse to comply with medical prescriptions, indicating that believers should not be afraid of the infection.
“One wise man, responding to this absurdity, said: “Why don’t you cross yourself and jump from the fifth floor? Indeed you won’t do this, trusting in your faith. Why then are you pushing people to break the rules that need to be followed?” the Patriarch pointed out.
“Faith should give us strength to overcome ailments, to support our loved ones … not to lose the ability to do good deeds. We should remain human beings who are able to love and help others … obeying certain sanitary rules,” concluded the Primate of the Russian Church.
At the conclusion of his sermon, Patriarch Kirill also expressed the hope that “some non-believer, going through these trials, will see God’s hand and mercy in them, and the hearts of people will open … and they will become children of Abraham, as the Word of God tells us about it.”
