Coronavirus forces change to religious traditions in Lebanon

Christians and Muslims adapt to the threat of the virus that caused its first death in Lebanon on Tuesday

Suspending a nearly 500-year-old tradition, Maronite priests in Lebanon are now administering Holy Communion by placing the wafer into the hands of the faithful rather than straight on to the tongue.

As the outbreak of novel coronavirus hits Lebanon, with 52 infected and the first death reported on Tuesday, religious institutions in the diverse country of 18 recognised sects have taken steps to inform and protect worshippers.

Warning signs are now appearing at the entrances of churches and mosques. But in Beirut's up-market Gemmayzeh neighbourhood, the clergyman at St Maron Church is trying to reassure his congregation that changing Communion is a return to tradition, not a suspension of belief.

"It should be noted that this practice is ancient," read a sign on the door of St Maron Church.

Sanitary workers disinfect a church in Beirut. AFP

Lebanon's health minister said hospitals were ready to deal with any further spread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 in the country. AFP

Sanitary workers disinfect a church in Beirut. AFP

Sanitary workers disinfect the desks and chairs of the Lebanese Parliament in central Beirut. AFP

A Lebanese Health Ministry official said on Tuesday that a man has died from the coronavirus, marking the first known death from the Covid-19 illness in the country. Lebanese Parliament Media Office

Sanitary workers disinfect the desks and chairs of the Lebanese Parliament in central Beirut. AFP

Lebanese doctor holds awareness brochures on coronavirus to be distributed on arriving passengers at Rafic Hariri international airport in Beirut. EPA

A Lebanese doctor checks the temperature of a passenger as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus, upon his arrival at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut. EPA

The 1,600-year-old Maronite church – an Eastern Catholic denomination widely following by Lebanon's Christian community – abolished the tradition of taking communion wafers by hand in the 16th century. But today, "we are going back to our roots", says Bishop Joseph Nafaa.

The current changes are not only for communion. To curb the spread of Covid-19, as churchgoers arrive they are instructed to greet each other with their hand on their heart instead of touching hands.

Fonts of holy water have been emptied and in their place are dispensers of hand sanitiser.

Similar measures have been taken by Catholic churches across the world.

In a country where religion plays an important role in social life, Lebanese Maronites have largely complied with their church’s new instructions.

But there have been issues. In the small Mount Lebanon village of Ajaltoun, Mass had to be suspended on Sunday after some parishioners insisted on receiving communion in the usual way. Similar incidents have happened elsewhere but church officials insisted they were minor and infrequent.

"We must see the bigger picture," insists Fadi El Chaer, a 56-year-old dentist after he attended morning mass at St Maron Church on Tuesday morning. "If the Pope is OK with people taking the communion wafer by hand, why should we not do it?"

The measures are a precaution but they also come after two priests at one of Beirut's main Jesuit churches, just down the road from the St Maron Church, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Despite this, several churchgoers say they aren’t worried about the spread.

"We must not give in to panic. I couldn't care less about the coronavirus. It's just a cold that kills about 2 per cent of people," said Rony Feghani, another dentist who attended mass at St Maron.

Health officials say that Lebanon remains in a containment phase, but the spread of the virus has heightened anxiety in the small Mediterranean country, which is already suffering from the worst economic crisis in its history.

Amid the worry, World Health Organisation head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called the spread of fake news and misinformation more dangerous than the virus itself.

As schools, universities, public parks, bars and gyms remain shut, people are finding solace in religion.

Last weekend, Maronite priest Majdi Allawi took to the skies to bless the small Mediterranean country in an attempt to ward off Covid-19.

In a move that raised questions on social media, some of the faithful delivered a mixture of holy water and soil from the grave of Saint Charbel Makhlouf to Beirut's Rafik Hariri Hospital where the 52 infected patients are being treated.

While some questioned why doctors were allowing this, Pierre Abi Hanna, head of the infectious diseases department at the hospital, told The National that "we accommodate people's wishes as long as it does not hurt them".

Medical workers and security personnel attend a ceremony marking the closure of the last makeshift hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, following the discharge of its last batch of coronavirus patients, in Hubei province, China. Reuters

A medical staff member collects waste after all patients were discharged at a temporary hospital set up to treat people with coronavirus in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP

A medical staff member sprays disinfectant at a residential area in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP

A medical staff member sprays disinfectant at a residential area in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP

Medical staff transfer an oxygen tank after all patients were discharged at a temporary hospital set up to treat people with the COVID-19 coronavirus in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP

People who have recovered from the coronavirus leave a temporary hospital in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. AFP

Employees from a disinfection service company sanitise a subway car depot amid coronavirus fears in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters

Hospital staff assist people waiting in line to be screened for COVID-19 outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Piazza Navona is seen completely deserted in Rome, Italy. Getty Images

Iranian firefighters disinfects streets in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus in Tehran, Iran. EPA

A civil defense worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus, in the main market, Baghdad, Iraq. AP Photo

A boy wears a protective face mask as he rides a bicycle in Qatif, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia imposed quarantine measures on the province of Qatif, following the spread of coronavirus. Reuters

A civil defense worker wearing a protective suit sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus, in the main market, Baghdad. AP Photo

Relatives wearing face masks mourn over the grave of former politburo official in the Revolutionary Guard Farzad Tazari, shown in a poster, who died on Monday after being infected with the new coronavirus, at the Behesht-e-Zahra cemetery just outside Tehran, Iran. AP

An Italian Army officer from the 66° Reggimento Fanteria Aeromobile "Trieste" checks a passenger at the Rome Termini railway station. Getty Images

Soldiers in protectivie suits disinfect people from a China Eastern Airlines plane after it landed at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. EPA

People wearing masks sit inside a bus in Manila, Philippines. EPA

A man wearing a mask walks out of a medical equipment store in Manila, Philippines. EPA

A worker wearing protective gear is seen through a window as she works in the room of Susan Hailey, 76, who has tested positive for the new coronavirus, as Hailey's daughters look in from outside the window, at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, near Seattle. AP Photo

Sunni and Shiite religious institutions have also adapted to the coronavirus. Altogether, Lebanon's Muslim community represent about two-thirds of the country's population.

Mohamed El Arwadi, director of Awkaf religious endowments at Dar El Fatwa, Lebanon's highest Sunni authority, told The National that worshippers were instructed two weeks ago to bring their own prayer mats and conduct ritual washing at home instead of at the mosque.

During prayers, advice is given on hygiene measures and mosques are being disinfected.

“We are doing our best,” he said.

The Supreme Islamic Shiite Council in Beirut has issued similar directives.

“We tell people to not go to crowded places and to not shake hands nor kiss,” said Ali Jaber, the council’s director.

While the country is still largely operating as normal, measures might soon be increased, said Salim Adib, a professor of epidemiology and public health at the American University of Beirut.

"Lebanon is slowly moving towards cancelling Friday prayer," he told The National.

Iran, the Middle East’s worst-hit country, has already taken such a move and Saudi Arabia has stopped Umrah pilgrimages and briefly shut the Grand Mosque in Makkah for extra cleaning.

The most important step is to encourage people displaying symptoms to stay at home, said Prof Adib.

"If someone goes to Mass and starts coughing, there will be a panic. Maybe it's not about cancelling events, but about telling people who are coughing and sneezing: please stay at home."