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March 2, 2022March 2, 2022
To the Reverend Clergy, Deacons & Monastics, Parish Council Presidents, & Parish Council Members of the Metropolis of Atlanta:
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I greet you with love and joy in the Name of our Lord and Savior, praying that all our communities receive His blessings of health, peace, and joy as we prepare for the beginning of the Lenten Fast.
The Metropolis is mindful of questions surrounding the changing mask mandates throughout the country, especially as we prepare for the services of Great and Holy Lent. According to the CDC, indoor mask mandates are being relaxed for those areas of the US where hospitals are not greatly impacted by COVID-19 cases (click here for more information).
Since we know that the 74 parishes across our eight states may find themselves in the different levels of low, medium, or high, it falls upon our Clergy and Parish Councils to exercise discretion on mask-wearing. This NPR article (click here) provides an updated map which allows for searching for the levels, broken down county-by-county; we hope that this will be helpful in making your individual decisions as a parish.
As before, those who continue to wear masks have every right to do so, whether or not your parish falls into a low or medium risk area. Whether others continue to wear masks for the sake of their friends or family, or even out of caution for their own health, their decisions should be respected as demonstrations of Christ-like love.
May our collective intercessions to our Creator help to bring a spirit of healing and peace to our world.
Paternally yours, with much love in the Lord,
+ A L E X I O S
Metropolitan of Atlanta
