Despite the urgings of Armenian Minister of Health ArsenTorosyan that religious institutions in Armenia cancel their services and that the faithful avoid such gatherings, due to the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus, churches today were packed in Yerevan.
Hundreds attended the Divine Liturgy today, the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent, celebrated at Yerevan’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral.

“I call on religious institutions to cancel their services until the coronavirus threat has filly passed. People’s health is of paramount importance, Minister Torosyan stated yesterday.

The priest at Yerevan’s St. Anna Armenian Apostolic Church announced that the tradition of the faithful to kiss the cross at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy will not be observed today.

Twenty confirmed COVID-20 cases have been confirmed in Armenia.

Schools and universities have been closed and travel to neighboring Georgia and Iran has been restricted.