“Officiate more Divine Liturgies during the week. Officiate in the morning and save the Holy Communion. Catalyze the Holy Communion the next day, after the Divine Liturgy. Invite Christians by families to come and commune. Set day and time so that no Christian stays without receiving the Holy Communion from now until Christmas. It is up to you. It depends on good organization in your community,” Archbishop Sotirios of Canada urged the Bishops and Priests of the Archdiocese of Canada in a letter he sent ahead of Christmas.
The Archbishop also urged them to communicate more with the Christians “This communication is needed now more than ever. Christmas is coming and our Christians do not commune. This is what Satan wants. This should not be allowed. Here is the way. Organize your Community. Priest, Board of Directors, Philoptochos Brotherhood and above all the Youth. All together, a team in the counterattack against the coronavirus.”
Read below the letter of the Archbishop of Canada:
Coronavirus, Christmas and Holy Communion. Coronavirus attacks. We counterattack.
Covid-19 made a great attack. It almost managed to close our churches. Divine Liturgies of ten (10) or twenty-five (25) Christians were allowed. It is very hard. We should not just sit still and do nothing. We should make a counter attack and this is how:
Twice in the past I wrote to you to check exactly the baptisms, weddings and funerals you have done in your church in the last ten (10) years. To make lists of names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses, to communicate with Christians regularly. This communication is needed now more than ever. Christmas is coming and our Christians do not commune. This is what Satan wants. This should not be allowed. Here is the way.
Organize your Community. Priest, Board of Directors, Philoptochos Brotherhood and above all the Youth. All together, a team in the counterattack against the coronavirus.
Write online. Call. Contact in person. Meet your Christians. Didn’t Christ say that? “The good shepherd knows the sheep by their names. He goes and finds the lost sheep”.
For us the sheep is not lost. Satan and the coronavirus managed to close our churches and leave the world without Holy Communion. We will not allow that.
Make a plan. Officiate more Divine Liturgies during the week. Officiate in the morning and save the Holy Communion. Catalyze the Holy Communion the next day, after the Divine Liturgy. Invite Christians by families to come and commune. Set day and time so that no Christian stays, from now until Christmas, without receiving the Holy Communion. It is up to you. It depends on the good organization in your community.
Many times you communicate with your Christians for other reasons. “To come to church, bring their children to Sunday school, to the camps, to enroll their children in Greek schools, to communicate with the youth and so much more. The Holy Communion is eternal life. It is a medicine of immortality. That is why no one should remain without receiving the Holy Communion”.
Some will say. There are many Christians. We will not make it. You are wrong. Your Neighboring Community is smaller. Call them to help you. Did not Peter do the same? He obeyed Jesus Christ. He threw the net. The boat was filled with fish and was about to sink. Then he called the other fishermen. You should shout for help too. The church is a family. How many times have I said that?
Meet your Christians. Invite them as a family to commune. This Christmas will be the best. Satan will be defeated. The coronavirus will not win.
My brothers Bishops and priests, now is the time. Do not waste effort and time. With real will and proper organization we will win the war. Let no Christian stay without receiving the Holy Communion this Christmas. I wish you good luck. Merry Christmas. May this be the most blessed Christmas.
With paternal love and warm wishes
ARCHBISHOP SOTIRIOS OF CANADA