Ieronymos II of Athens

The government has extended measures banning all services at churches and other places of worship from March 30 to April 11. The new date is just a week ahead of Greek Orthodox Easter, the biggest event on the country's religious calendar.

The Church on Friday joined the state's campaign urging people to stay home as part of the measures against the spread of the coronavirus with a statement by Archbishop Ieronymos who called on people to comply as an act of love.
"I stay home because I love others. I don't stay home out of fear, but because I love," he said in a message.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tonight ordered the closure of all churches and places of worship of all denominations.

Mitsotakis announced the decision via his Twitter account straight on the heels of a decision of the Orthodox Church of Greece to severely restrict services but to keep conducting an abbreviated Sunday Divine Liturgy between 8am and 9pm.

When the country is hit by an unprecedented crisis and is dealing with a threat that challenges its capabilities, everyone has a responsibility to step up and do their bit. The Church of Greece is no exception.

When the country is hit by an unprecedented crisis and is dealing with a threat that challenges its capabilities, everyone has responsibility to step up and do their part. The Church of Greece is no exception.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appealed to the Church of Greece to help raise public awareness about the new coronavirus after a fourth patient tested negative on Friday.

In a telephone call with Archbishop Ieronymos, Mitsotakis said that clerics can play an important role in helping stop the spread of the virus by informing citizens of what steps they should be taking.

Archbishop Ieronymos has lauded the government's decision that the feast day of the Three Holy Hierarchs will no longer be a school holiday.

Amid the turmoil that has engulfed the Orthodox Church over the contentious issue of the Ukrainian Church's independence from Moscow, Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios arrived in Greece on Friday, where he is expected to hold a service Saturday with Greek Archbishop Ieronymos.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece has recognized the autonomy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, in line with a request by the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios, Kathimerini learned on Saturday.

Conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will on Tuesday meet with Greek Archbishop Ieronymos.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at Maximos Mansion at 3.30 p.m. The agenda of the talks has not been made public.