Greek Orthodox Church

The Holy Synod, the decision-making body of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, has removed the Metropolitan of Chalcedon, currently known as the Kadıköy district in Istanbul, over his alleged disobedience and disrespect to Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of some 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.

The Greek government may decide to impose additional restrictions, "even unexpectedly," to limit the spread of the coronavirus if it is deemed necessary, Minister of State Giorgos Gerapetritis said on Thursday.

"You cannot rule out any measure. If we need to ban activities again, we will do so if necessary," he told Skai radio station on Thursday morning.

Turkey's Orthodox community celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ on Jan. 6, recognized as Christmas according to the Julian calendar.

Greek Orthodox citizens in Istanbul reenacted the baptism of Christ with a traditional cross-throwing ceremony at the Kuzguncuk dock in Üsküdar district.

The Greek government relented and allowed limited attendance at churches celebrating the feast of the Epiphany Wednesday, reversing a ban on attendance designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The Greek Church cannot "cherry-pick" among the health rules and restrictions that have been imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus, government sources said on Monday, in response to an announcement by the Holy Synod that it intends to defy a government closure of all places of worship to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on January 6.

It is "inconceivaable" for the Greek Orthodox Church to be demanding an exemption from the nationwide lockdown to celebrate the feast of the Epiphany on January 6, opposition Movement for Change (KINAL) said in a statement on Monday.

Vandalism and other attacks against sites of religious significance in Greece decreased in 2019 compared to 2018, according to the annual "Report on Incidents Against Places of Religious Importance in Greece," published recently by the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs. 

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church has decided to convene the Holy Synod Monday after the government forced churches to close for a week, starting Sunday.

The closure means that the Epiphany, which commemorates Jesus' baptism, will not be celebrated this January 6 and priests will not conduct the customary blessing of the waters.

The Metropolitan Bishop of Kastoria, Seraphim, died from complications caused by Covid-19 at the age of 61 on Tuesday, becoming the second senior Greek cleric to succumb to the virus.

Seraphim tested positive in early December but as his health deteriorated, he was admitted to the 424 General Military Hospital of Thessaloniki, where he was intubated on December 20.

The health of Αrchbishop Ieronymos is "constantly improving," the hospital in Athens where he is being treated for Covid-19 announced on Thursday.

The head of the Greek Orthodox Church was admitted to Evangelismos Hospital's augmented care unit on November 19 with mild fever after testing positive for the virus.