To the Most reverend archpastors, honorable clergy, venerable monastics and pious faithful of the Patriarchal Exarchate of South-East Asia
My beloved in the Lord!
My sincere feelings and pastoral responsibility impel me to address you, my dear ones.
The deadly disease is striking more and more people in another trial permitted by God on Earth. Those especially suffering are the nations within the canonical responsibility of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Southeast Asia.
In its many centuries of history, the humankind has repeatedly confronted similar suffering. The Church has always remained with its people, courageously grieving together with them, helping to overcome the difficult trials, and imploring our Lord and Savior to help in a speedy cessation of the epidemics. The faithful took upon themselves additional fasting, carried out processions and special services of supplication.
Our Christian love and compassion urge all of us to strengthen our prayers for people in grave peril.
I call upon all Orthodox Christian communities of the Patriarchal Exarchate to conduct the special service of supplication (Moleben) for a speedy recovery of the sick and for the cessation of the spread of the disease.
With the intercession of the Most Pure Lady Theotokos and all the Saints, may God have mercy on us all!
With love in the Lord,
SERGIY
Metropolitan of Singapore and Southeast Asia
Patriarchal Exarch of Southeast Asia
