THE MESSAGE OF APOSTOLIC PREFECT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AZERBAIJAN, MOST REVEREND BISHOP VLADIMIR FEKETE TO THE FAITHFULS OF CATHOLIC CHURCH WHO LIVE IN AZERBAIJAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE DIVINE SERVICES OF THE HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

Parish-news

Dear brothers and sisters,

This year, we are experiencing Lent in extreme circumstances of the global epidemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. As you already know, the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is taking a number of measures to prevent the rapid spread of this virus, including the strict quarantine regime until April 20, 2020. Before the end of the quarantine period, meetings, public events are prohibited, citizens can leave their homes only for the reasons specified in the government decree. Of course, these circumstances will affect the celebration of Easter, which this year we will meet in a new, unusual way for us.

Divine services of Holy Week and Easter will be held in our country without the participation of believers, and in those forms that are presented in special decrees of the Congregation of the Divine Cult and Sacraments of March 19 and 25, 2020.

In the program attached to this Message, you will find the schedule of services of the Holy Easter Triduum and the Resurrection of Christ. In this way, each of you can prayerfully join the priesthood at a certain hour of the day, according to the schedule. If circumstances and technical facilities allow, we will organize a live broadcast of some services. All this will allow us to create a spiritual unity in faith and love with all the Catholics of Azerbaijan.

I am sure that if we wish to turn to God with all our hearts, we can devote even more time to prayer and to the Holy Scriptures on Easter days than under ordinary circumstances, and our spiritual life will not only not suffer, but by God’s grace can become even deeper and more fruitful.

Even if we fail to join the broadcasts of the services on television or on the Internet, God will undoubtedly give us all the necessary graces for our life in response to our sincere prayer.

Every day I pray for each of you in the hope that this difficult test will strengthen your personal faith, our Church, and the entire society of our country.

May our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Conqueror of sin and death and the Firstborn of the Resurrection, kept for hundreds of years by the Church in the most difficult circumstances of human history, strengthen you and fill your heart with peace and joyful expectation of Easter.

YourBishop, + VladimirFekete, SDB

EASTER DIVINE SERVICES PROGRAM

The exact time of Holy Masses in the church of Immaculate Conception will be given later

HOLY WEEK

5 APRIL PALM SUNDAY

13:00 – Holy Mass (in Russian language) in the chapel of Christ, the Redeemer

9 APRIL GOOD THURSDAY

THE HOLY MASS OF MIRTH AND OIL CONSECRATION

  • Postponed to the relevant date on summer or autumn

LAST SUPPER COMMEMORATION

18:00 – Holy Mass (in Russian language) in the chapel of Christ, the Redeemer

10 APRIL GOOD FRIDAY

COMMEMORATION OF PASSIONS AND DEATh OF OUR LORD

18:00 – the service (in Russian language) in the chapel of Christ, the Redeemer

11 APRIL HOLY SATURDAY (EASTER VIGIL)

20:00 – Holy Mass (in Russian language)

12 APRIL EASTER

13:00 – Holy Mass in the chapel of Christ, the Redeemer By most reverend bishop Vladimir Fekete, live: https://youtu.be/_vM6a0Hr4y8