Archbishop hails state’s pandemic response

Archbishop Ieronymos of the Church of Greece has lauded the level of cooperation with the state amid the coronavirus outbreak that also saw the conservative government impose a lockdown that closed places of worship for about two months, while identifying new areas of opportunity for the Church as a result of the pandemic.

"We ought to say a big 'thank you' today, in spite of any hyperbole on either side, for the determination shown by the central administration of our state, the prime minister, the ministers, who acted efficiently and swiftly," Ieronymos said in an interview with Kathimerini's executive editor Alexis Papachelas, describing the outcome of efforts so far as "praiseworthy."

Ieronymos said that Covid-19 generated fresh challenges for the Church. "A new world has been born. [A number of] issues have already surfaced, [such as] unemployment, hunger,...

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