Holy Land: Basilica of the
Nativity reopens
 |
| the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem |
The Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem reopens its doors
to the faithful limiting access to 50 people at a time.
By Vatican News
As restrictions due to Covid-19 begin to ease many countries
are making their first tentative steps into the next phase of the pandemic.
Churches that have been closed for physical worship are opening their doors to
the faithful who are asked to observe a series of precautionary measures.
In the Holy Land, Tuesday 26 May is the turn of the Basilica
of the Nativity in Bethlehem where 50 people will be allowed inside at a time.
This comes on the heels of the official reopening of the
Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre on Sunday, as announced by the Custos of the
Holy Land, Father Francis Patton, OFM, and the Greek Orthodox and Armenian
Patriarchs of Jerusalem, Theophilus III and Nourhan Manougian.
A statement signed by the heads of the Basilica’s three
custodians said that “for security reasons and to avoid the risk of a new
spread of the Covid-19 infection, the number will initially be limited to 50
people and the Basilica will be accessible only to those who have no fever or
symptoms of infection and wear appropriate facial protection.” It will
also be necessary to respect the minimum safety distance of 2 metres and
"avoid any act of devotion that may involve physical contact such as
touching and kissing the stones, icons, vestments and staff of the Basilica".
The closure of the Basilica of the Nativity, along with that
of all churches and mosques in the Holy Land, was ordered last March 5 by the
Palestinian Ministry of Health.
A time of healing
In an interview with Vatican News, Fr Patton described this
gradual reopening as a sort of a convalescence after a period of silence.
He said that the Holy Land will not be able to welcome
pilgrims from other countries until at least the end of the summer, but for the
locals this moment represents a time of great joy and hope.
Fr Patton pointed out that throughout the lockdown the
Basilicas have continued to be a place of prayer and worship. He highighted how
the extraordinary circumstances have fuelled a strong ecclesial bond and an
even more powerful feeling of ecumenism between the Greek, the Latin and the
Armenian communities who together, “representing the east and the west, really
joined their voices to invoke the Lord for the end of the pandemic.”
Regarding Pope Francis’ exhortation to continue to be
prudent and safeguard each other’s health, Fr Patton said he embraces that
message wholeheartedly.
He also reflected on the fact that “it shouldn't take a
pandemic to make us attentive towards the most vulnerable people“ in our
societies.
“From now on, what we are trying to do is to ensure prudent
and necessary measures. But then we have to look forward to going back to
normality,” he said.
As we await effective therapies for the virus, he concluded,
it is important to move beyond the fear of contagion “because that would mean
no longer living authentic human relationships.”
“We risk becoming people, who, out of fear, do not sleep at
night, no longer shake hands with the other, no longer kiss their children. And
that would mean entering a phase of ‘anaesthetic anthropology’ and it would be
a terrible result. So prudence yes, respect yes, excessive fear no, anxiety no,
and certainly not thinking that we should continue in this way forever.”
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét