Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world’s 300 million Orthodox Christians and the “first amongst equals,” according to Orthodox tradition, has shared a video greeting to faithful about the Church’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier today, the Patriarch issued a directive to all churches under his direct jurisdiction, that all liturgies and services were to be suspended.

“This trial, too, shall pass. The clouds will clear, and the Sun of Righteousness will eliminate the deadly effect of the virus. But our lives will have changed forever. This trial is an opportunity for us to change for the better. In the direction of establishing love and solidarity,” Bartholomew said from his prepared remarks.

Watch the Pastoral Greeting of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

The video message in Greek: