Dear brothers and sisters!
Christ is Risen!
By the mercy of God we have already reached the 3rd Sunday of the Paschal celebration, which the Church has wisely dedicated to the remembrance of the podvig of the myrrh-bearing women.
The myrrh-bearing women and the apostles represent, as it were, two paths of faith. The resolute and ardent Peter, ready to follow the Savior even to death, turned out, before being enlightened by the Holy Spirit, to be not so courageous and strong in faith when a real danger to his life arose. And the other disciples too, fearing their fellow countrymen, abandoned the Lord in fear at the most critical moment.
But the quiet and meek women who accompanied Christ in His earthly wanderings stood silently by the Cross and in their hearts were crucified with the Lord Jesus. They sought to prove nothing to anyone and did not demand for themselves the honor of sitting at the right or left hand of the Savior in His Kingdom. They simply served Christ with meekness, patience and deep humility. And that, perhaps, is why He granted them a great honor: to become apostles to the apostles themselves, to bring the good news to the Savior’s closest disciples.
Today the example of their podvig is especially instructive for us. In recent weeks we have been going through a very difficult trial. A dangerous disease has befallen our people. It has already taken many lives, among them clergy of our Church. Tens of thousands of people are now suffering in hospitals, while doctors and nurses selflessly fight to save them. Even more people are forced to stay at home in self-isolation, enduring restrictions on contact with relatives and loved ones, and often even acute material need.
My dear ones, I understand very well how hard it is for you now. I deeply sympathize with all of you. Believe me, you are not alone; the Patriarch is with you. All my thoughts and prayers are about you. Every day I pray to God for mercy, that this difficult trial may pass from our people as soon as possible, that we may once again be united with you in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, with one mouth and one heart glorifying the Lord.
From the very beginning of this situation it was clear to me that we were facing a dangerous and insidious illness. The clergy and our elderly parishioners were bound to be in the zone of special risk. And in recent days we have already lost several respected clergy and many faithful children of the Church. As Primate I have always been aware of my responsibility for the clergy and the people.
With great sorrow I made the decision to appeal to you to refrain temporarily from visiting churches. Without exaggeration, those were the hardest words of my life. I had never had to say anything like it. But such is the burden of responsibility borne by the Primate of the Church, who takes upon himself not only the honors of the patriarchal rank but also all the spiritual pain of the episcopate, clergy and flock. And this pain is in my heart every time I think of the millions of Orthodox people who long to partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ and cannot cross the threshold of their church; when I think of the clergy who celebrate services behind closed doors and are deprived of material support today.
But just as faith without love brings a person no benefit, so Christian compassion must bear visible fruit. Therefore I appealed to people of means who are well disposed to the Church with a humble request to provide material support to our clergy. And thanks be to the Lord — my pleas were heard. Of course, this may not radically change the situation, but each of us today must do what is in our power to help our neighbor. I am sincerely grateful to those people who, despite the economic difficulties the country and the whole world are going through, showed a truly Christian readiness to share their possessions for the sake of their neighbors. May the All-Bountiful Lord reward you for your good deeds.
Although I, like many of you, am forced to stay in an enclosed space, I constantly receive reports of dramatic cases occurring in various cities and villages in connection with the spread of the deadly pestilence. And I try, as far as possible, to direct the efforts of our volunteers in their truly ascetic service. To all the volunteers, led by Bishop Panteleimon, with whom I am in daily contact and from whom I receive the necessary information — my special gratitude, for to you directly may be applied the words of Christ the Savior: “I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matt. 25:35-36).
I would also like to express special gratitude to the doctors. Medical workers are today on the front line of the fight against the disease, showing true heroism and faithfulness to their calling. All this evokes the most sincere admiration.
Despite the difficulty of the situation, we are called in all circumstances to preserve peace of soul, calm and discernment. Not to be indignant or inflamed with hatred, not to engage in an endless search for enemies, and still less, God forbid, to curse anyone, which in itself is unthinkable for a Christian. We remember what the Savior told us: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
God will not abandon His Church and His faithful servants. I only ask you: do not despair, do not lose heart; I pray for all of you and in turn await your fervent prayers for me as your Patriarch.
By the mercy and omnipotence of the Risen Christ we will overcome this affliction too, for with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26), if only we are steadfast in the present trials and faithful in our hope in the Lord, just as the myrrh-bearing women believed in Him with patience and meekness, as the secret disciples Joseph and Nicodemus remained with Him. I address you with the words of Holy Scripture: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13) — and the Lord will preserve us by His grace. Amen.
+KIRILL, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA