Religious Affairs Ministry Calls on Christians to Celebrate Easter at Home

Director for Christian Affairs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Jannus Pangaribuan in Jakarta, Sunday (5/4). Photo by: the Ministry of Religious Affairs

Directorate General for Christian Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religious Affairs has called on Christians in Indonesia to celebrate this year’s Easter at home to prevent the spread of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

“Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance urges Church Leaders to celebrate Easter at home,” Director for Christian Affairs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Jannus Pangaribuan said in Jakarta, Sunday (5/4).

For the record, Christians will celebrate Good Friday on 10 April 2020 and Easter on Sunday, 12 April 2020.

Good Friday is celebrated to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ and is usually celebrated with the Lord’s Supper, while the Easter is celebrated to commemorate God’s resurrection. Both Good Friday and Easter are usually celebrated in churches.

Jannus went on to say that Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance on 3 April 2020 sent letters regarding the matter to the Chairperson of the National Association of Church Denominations as well as to the Leaders of Church/Synod in Indonesia.

“We hope that the Lord’s Supper will be held at home, in accordance with the ordinances of each church,” he said.

The Lord’s Supper is one of the sacraments recognized by the church, which is an inseparable part of the events of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Easter.

In the Lord’s Supper, Christians remember the sacrifice of the blood and body of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper Service conducted by Christians is a form of appreciation of the love of Jesus through the sacrifice of His blood and body.

“In the event that the Leaders of Church/Synod Organization in Indonesia will hold a celebration, we hope that the Lord’s Supper can be postponed until the COVID-19 outbreak is contained, or be conducted at home,” he concluded. (PR of the Ministry of Religious Affairs/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana