As first reported on Thursday, the St. Catherine Sacred Monastery of the God-Trodden Mt. Sinai announced that it will close to pilgrims and visitors until March 31.
Back in southeast Europe, the Archbishop of Craiova, His Eminence Irineos, conveyed a message of hope and optimism to the Metropolis’ faithful, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, reminding of the significance of prayer in the life of a Christian amid times of trial.
Elsewhere in Europe, Orthodox hierarchs in Belarus were briefed at the Minsk theology school on the spread of the coronavirus, while receiving instructions on prevention and precautions – to be distributed to local clerics.
In Germany, the Greek Orthodox parish of the Holy Apostles in Dortmund remains at the side of people in at-risk groups, as Archimandrite Philotheos Maroudas announced that the Church will offer more help to its elderly parishioners and to those in need.