An Orthodox prayer book against coronavirus

Written by Vladimir Zobern, who has worked in the publishing sector of the Moscow Patriarchate since the 1970s. The book is inspired by the Letter of St. James (5.15). "Turning to earthly doctors, we must not forget the heavenly ones". The prayers concern the sick, but also healthcare workers, volunteers and those who sacrifice themselves to help "the country and the world". Buddhists and Muslims also have special invocations against the pandemic.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - On October 27, a prayer book was presented via Zoom Coronavirus: prayers in aid of the sick and for those who are at risk. The electronic version can be downloaded on major sites such as Ozon.ru or Litres.ru.

The author of the text is a well-known writer in the Russian Orthodox world, Vladimir Zobern, who in the 1990s founded the publishing house of religious literature Svetlyachok together with the then monk Tikhon (Ševkunov), the "spiritual father of Putin", today Metropolitan of Pskov.

Zobern has been involved in religious publications since the Soviet years, having worked in the publishing sector of the Moscow Patriarchate since the 1970s. One of the books he wrote is entitled "The President's Dukhovnik", that is, the spiritual father, and is dedicated to various figures of clergy who have had an influence on Russian political leaders.

In the anti-Covid prayer book various forms of invocations recommended by the Orthodox Church are proposed during the epidemic period. Everything is inspired by the promise contained in the Letter of James 5.15, the passage of the institution of the sacrament of anointing the sick: “the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up".

According to the published text, “Christian history knows many examples of healing from epidemics and alleviating the suffering of the sick, thanks to sincere and insistent prayer; turning to earthly doctors, we must not forget the heavenly ones”.

The prayers offered concern the sick, but also healthcare workers, volunteers and those who sacrifice themselves to help in these situations in every way, "in our country and throughout the world", asking God: "Teach us to love life and health as gifts that come from You”.

Since last March, the patriarch of Moscow Kirill (Gundjaev) had approved some prayers in the Slavic-ecclesiastical language against the spread of the virus, to be read in all Russian churches. They do not use the term "coronavirus", which is called "malign death" (vredonosnoe povetrie). In many churches and monasteries special processions are held around ecclesiastical buildings, with the aim of "keeping away the work of the Evil One who brings poison to men".

Even Muslims and Buddhists of Russia have proposed special invocations against the pandemic, and many Russian faithful of various confessions joined the day of prayer against Covid-19 announced by Pope Francis on May 14th.

• russia
• economy
• covid-19
• pandemic
• churches
• monasteries
• prayer
• moscow patriarchate
• kirill gundaev