April 2020 Coronavirus Update

To the Reverend Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Diocese of the West:

 

The Lord bless you and keep you and your communities safe during this difficult time.

Please forgive the length of this communication. It contains a lot of important information. Please read it carefully. I would also ask you to read the documents released yesterday by the Holy Synod and Metropolitan Council.

As I said in my last communication, our response to this viral pandemic is by necessity changing almost daily. And, I am reticent about sending yet another letter of instruction. Each time I do it seems I get a number of phone calls and emails asking for clarity on one or another point. So, I hope to be as clear as possible. The context for many of these questions seems to be: How can I perform my priestly ministry by gathering my people in spite of the limitations placed upon me by the civil authorities and my bishop? While this could be understandable, you cannot, as to do so may well prove to be dangerous for yourself and your people. The question probably should be: How can I best protect my flock? And, sadly, the answer to that question is to urge them to stay home as much as possible, and this includes your church.

For that reason I ask you to close the doors to your parishes until further notice and to post a notice on the doors stating that, even though services may be in progress, the doors are to remain locked until further notice. You may provide a phone number that can be called or the address of your parish website for additional information. If you are able to live-stream, you may want to give instructions as to when and how your services can be accessed. As we get closer to Pascha, it is quite natural to be tempted to lighten the restriction in order to, as I have put it, salvage as much of the Paschal joy as possible. In a previous statement I blessed the distribution of Holy Communion to the faithful on certain days. However, as the pandemic is expected to peak after the date of Pascha, to do so would expose both the clergy and faithful to great risk. And so, by means of this letter, I am withdrawing that blessing until further notice.

 

Let me be as clear as possible about a few things:

 

1) Everyone must follow the guidelines given by the civil authorities in your area. In most areas, but not all, this will mean services may be held behind closed doors by two or three persons. And, if possible, the services may be live-streamed. Your families may also be present, keeping mind the object is to have as few people as possible present and maintaining social distancing. Only one priest is necessary.

2) Holy Communion may be given only to the two or three persons who are necessarily present for those services until further notice. Changes in the directives as to how Holy Communion is to be given are to be found below.

3) You are blessed to serve, behind closed and locked doors with two or three persons only. The services of Holy Week (except for the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts) may be served and you have my blessing to omit some of them and to edit them as you deem necessary.

4) If you do not have the means of live-streaming from your temple, you may direct your faithful to the Holy Trinity Cathedral website where these services will be live-streamed. If you are able to live-stream, keep in mind the fact one’s attention span is a bit shorter. I recommend you try to keep whatever you broadcast to as close to an hour when possible.

5) I recommend blessed palms and willows be made available for the faithful to pick up outside the closed doors of your temple on Palm Sunday.

6) The blessing of baskets on Holy Saturday and Pascha is discouraged, not forbidden. If for some reason you feel it is absolutely necessary to bless baskets, you may do so one family at a time and by appointment only. This should take place outside.

Holy Communion

Please disregard my previous directives as to how Holy Communion should be distributed. The virus hates to be dry and heat. After consultation with physicians the following method is blessed: Communion is to be given by the spoon and only to those who are present as permitted above. After each communicant has received the Holy Gifts, the spoon should be placed in BOILING water for at least 30 seconds. It should then be dried using a paper towel. You may want to employ more than one spoon in this process should you have them. When you have finished the distribution of communion, the water should be consumed at the same time you cleanse the chalice.

Federal PPP Loans

I have been informed forgivable Federal PPP small business loans are to be made available on a first come – first served basis beginning Friday. Churches are eligible to apply. To do so you must have your own tax id number! You may not use the diocesan tax id number or that of the OCA. It is highly recommended you contact your bank today in order to facilitate application tomorrow. I have been informed assistance may be available through an office set up by the Assembly of Bishops. We will let you know how to access that assistance as soon as possible. I am sure our diocesan treasurer, Matushka Theodora, can be a resource for you as well.

Remittances to the Diocese

We are facing difficult times at every level of Church life. The beauty of our system of proportional giving is that, if your parish does well, the diocese does well. If your parish experiences decreased revenue, the diocese will suffer along with you. However, if there is extraordinary need, you may contact Matushka Theodora to discuss possible relief. She will evaluate your request and make a recommendation to me as to how we might be able to help your parish.

Please keep in mind the restrictions in place are not only given to protect the health of the faithful, but yours as well. We cannot afford to lose anyone of you to this virus. Please guard your health for the sake of those for who you are responsible. Finally, when our communities are able to gather together again for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, I plan to bless that the Paschal services be celebrated in our churches with all their solemnity, beauty and Paschal joy.

Asking God’s protection for you all,

†Benjamin; Archbishop of San Francisco