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China: Authorities summon and question Christians for asking for fasting and prayer over coronavirus

March 8, 2020

Persecution of Christians in China: the Chinese government is now reportedly using the coronavirus outbreak to step up its harassment and persecution of Christians. This comes in the midst of an all-out campaign to turn Christianity into a weak religion that is entirely subservient to the Chinese Communist Party, and that doesn’t teach anything that would lead Chinese people away from Communist Party dogma.

This is a matter of grave concern for Orthodox Christians in China and all other Christians as well. Holy Orthodoxy in China predates this war on Christianity. It has a three-hundred year history in China, with the first Orthodox Christians coming into the country in 1685. In the 1980s, the Chinese Orthodox Church began to experience a revival. Pray that it not be snuffed out. The Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, requests once again that the Chinese government end these repressive measures, grant official recognition to the Chinese Orthodox Church, and give full religious freedom to all the Christians of that nation.

For previous ChristianPersecution.com coverage of the persecution of Christians in China, see here.

“China is reportedly harassing Christians for speaking out about coronavirus,” Premier, March 8, 2020:

The Chinese government has been accused of carrying out a summoning mission over Christians sharing or publishing information about the coronavirus outbreak.

Li Wanhua, a pastor from Fengle Church in Guangdong, was summoned by State security officers for sharing a social media post from Dr Li Wenliang, one of the virus’ original whistle-blowers.

According to religious freedom charity China Aid, an informed Christian said that officials are now questioning pastors and lawyers in conjunction with the virus.

Another Christian was seized on 7th February by the local authority for asking his friends to fast and pray for “peace and safety” due to the spread of the illness.

Attorney Jiang Yongli was also called into the police station because of a shared social media post about the virus. He was questioned about the intentions behind publishing such a post….