The Christians are urged to stay at home this year on the Resurrection Night. Priest Petru Storoja, of Saint Hierarch Nicolae Church of Chisinau, has told IPN that the people should realize that they must take measures to prevent infection with the novel coronavirus. He called on the parishioners to pray at home, to make the cross sign and to sing the Paschal Troparion, bless Easter food with holy water and celebrate with the family.

The services at Saint Hierarch Nicolae Church have been held behind closed doors. They are broadcast live on the church’s Facebook page. The Easter Liturgy will also be broadcast this way.

On the Resurrection Night, the service starts at 11pm and ends at 3am. “We will officiate behind closed doors. The parishioners will be unable to enter even if some come. We comply with the recommendations of epidemiologists and virologists,” stated Petru Storoja.

Under the authorities’ decision, the services on the Resurrection Night will be held only with the involvement of church clerics. The presence of parishioners at services is banned. In villages, the Easter foodstuff will be blessed by priests by people’s gates. In Chisinau, the people can purchase already blessed Easter bread and cakes in patisserie shops.