The Orthodox Churches, which are preparing to celebrate the Easter this Sunday, performed the Ritual of Blessing of the Sacred Oils (Holy Wednesday) and the Last Supper Mass (Holy Thursday) without the participation of the community. However, some Orthodox Churches broadcasted their rituals online to their congregations.
In the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Churches in Hatay, Antakya, Samandağ, Altınözü and Mersin hosted the Holy week celebrations without the participation of the faithful.
Only the clergy men attended the celebrations while the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Istanbul, the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Petrus and St. Paul, Altınözü St. Georgios Greek Orthodox Church, and the Mersin Greek Orthodox Church broadcasted live the rituals.
Jan Dellüler , one of the priests of Antakya Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church made a statement on the Ritual of Blessing of the Holy Oils on his social media accounts: “We celebrated the Ritual of Blessing of the Holy Oils Prayer for our community by feeling that they were spiritually with us. Our hope is to be in the house of the Lord with all the believers again soon. Lord, save your congregation and bless your legacy!”
(SAT-7 TURK / İlyas Edip TERBİYELİ / İskenderun)
