OCA's synod meets to discuss coronavirus

Several OCA diocesan hierarchs have already put out directives for their people. It looks like they want to have everyone on the same page. It would be too much of a heavy lift for the Assembly of Bishops to speak with one voice, but it is what makes the most sense. This is especially true as Lent is a time of many pan-Orthodox events where one set of agreed upon guidelines would be appreciated.

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(OCA) - On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon convened an extraordinary meeting of the Holy Synod which met by conference call to discuss the continuing Coronavirus outbreak.

Participating in the call were Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit, Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco, Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia, Archbishop Irenee of Ottawa, Archbishop Michael of New York, Archbishop Alexander of Dallas, Archbishop David of Sitka, Bishop Paul of Chicago, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, Bishop Alexis of Bethesda, and Bishop Andrei of Cleveland.

On February 29, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, published a preliminary statement on the outbreak. Since then the bishops of the Holy Synod have issued statements of guidance to their faithful and clergy. In their meeting today the Holy Synod discussed the need for a statement and further directives from the Holy Synod.

Parish communities are asked to familiarize themselves with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for Community and Faith-based leaders.