Thursday, April 1, 2010

Orthodox Church Spokesman: Russians Will Attend Easter Services Despite Terrorist Attacks

A senior Russian Orthodox Church spokesman said today (April 1, 2010) that church-goers should not be put off attending services this Easter by the terrorist attacks this week that have shocked the country, according to the RIA Novosti (Russian) website.

Twin blasts on the Moscow subway on Monday killed 39 people and injured more than 90. On Wednesday, two explosions in the town of Kizlyar, near Chechnya in Russia's North Caucasus, killed 12 people.

"I can hardly imagine an Orthodox Christian who would be too afraid to attend Easter services.... Of course, security measures and police presence near Moscow churches will be enhanced," archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, who is in charge of the Church's relations with society, told a press conference on Holy Thursday.

Holy Thursday -- known as Clean Thursday in Russia -- is a significant day in Holy Week. The Orthodox Church remembers the Last Supper of Jesus and the Apostles. On this day, bishops wash the feet of priests in commemoration of Christ washing the feet of His 12 disciples as a sign of humility.

No comments:

Post a Comment