Greek Orthodox Church

"A new world has been born and we have to deal with it, and this presents an opportunity for the Church," Archbishop Ieronymos said in an important interview with Kathimerini's executive editor, Alexis Papachelas, last Sunday.

Greece has no say over what happens to Istanbul's Byzantine-era monument of Hagia Sophia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said, while accusing Athens of undermining the religious freedoms of its Muslim community.

One by one, the children and adults line up for the centuries-old ritual of Holy Communion, trying to keep a proper social distance. The priest dips a spoon into the chalice of bread and wine, which the faithful believe is the body and blood of Christ, and puts it into the mouth of the first person in line.

Imams will recite verses of the Quran in Istanbul's Byzantine-era cathedral Hagia Sophia during Friday's prayers on the anniversary of the city's 1453 conquest by Ottoman troops, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said according to reports Thursday.

The former bishop of Kalavryta Amvrosios on Thursday threatened to kick Education Minister Niki Kerameus out of the Greek Orthodox Church unless she takes back a statement suggesting that Holy Communion may be dangerous in the coronavirus pandemic.

The Turkish Red Crescent delivered 100 food packages to an Istanbul church as part of measures to combat the novel coronavirus, the aid agency said on April 30. 

Altimermer Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul's historic Fatih district received the supplies of basic necessities that will be distributed to the city's Greek Orthodox minority community.

A priest at a Greek Orthodox church in Nea Kios in the northern Peloponnese conducts the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper late on Wednesday night. The service was broadcast live online as it was conducted without a congregation, following the closure of all places of worship by the government on March 20 as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The renowned CBS news program, 60 Minutes, will showcase the rebuilding of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center on April 12, whih coincides with Western Easter

Τhe Holy Synod, the ruling body of the Greek Orthodox Church, has said that all Easter services will be held without any public gatherings as part of the country's efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In a circular, the Holy Synod cautioned clerics against deviating from the guidelines of the Church or they would jeopardize public health.

The government adopted on Monday a request by the Greek Orthodox Church to allow Easter services to be held behind closed doors without a congregation as of Palm Sunday on April 12.

The measure will be in place for one week, until April 20, which is the Orthodox Easter Monday.