Many ask us what the causes of the pandemic COVID-19 are, if it is a natural phenomenon, or if there are state-level actors who generated this epidemic.

We need to understand that this way of thinking is distorted.

Don’t blame others

We must first think why perfect God has allowed this to happen to us. Nothing is accidental.

So, the cause is us, our sins. Since it is a general pain, it is clearly shown that this sin is a general one—and this due to indifference to spiritual matters, an indifference to God.

Thus, we deserve separation from services and Holy Communion, due to the general indifference of those who know almost nothing about faith, and those who know about faith but do not mourn and pray for their state and society in general.

We must cry and pray intensely, patiently and hopefully, waiting for the solution. That is how the problems are solved.

Causes of the Pandemic are spiritual

We, however, have completely changed our value system: we regard sin as virtue and virtue as sin. This is the worst thing of all and, in fact, is the main cause of the trouble. If sin had been accepted as sin, then people would have repented, fought and come back from it and, so, God would have expected our return. Now, when sin passes as a virtue, mankind goes for self-destruction, without stopping, and so spiritual law is bound to intervene.

Of all the sins that pass as virtue, what is the sin—or category of sins—that is the causes of the pandemic?

It is obvious that, since this temptation comes to us in the body, the sins that cause the pandemic are the bodily sins which we see today as a virtue. We are sexually obsessed; we accept any sexual distortion and we no longer know how to satisfy these desires. Therefore, God separates us from each other in quarantines because, by staying together, we destroy ourselves.

Let’s not look for the causes of the pandemic outside of us, even though it is possible that different players, more or less malicious, may have brought or contributed to this pandemic. However, information accusing a state or an organization capable of doing such things will only arouse hatred. This will not solve the situation, but will rather increase the hostility between us.

Conclusion

Once again: the solution is repentance: crying, fasting and intense prayer with patience and hope. Things are simple, but we do not want to apply them because of the overturning of our value system, self-love, and indifference. These are the causes of the pandemic.

The photos are from the Sunday of the Holy Cross. At the end of the feast, the entire brotherhood of Vatopedi monastery together with all the workers and civil administration went out for a litany around the main church (katholikon) in order to pray for the pandemic. No pilgrims were present since the Mount Athos is closed.

Below is a live recording from the feast with the troparion of the Holy Cross:

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