Episcopacy

Four days after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that faithful at Orthodox churches will have to present a negative COVID-19 rapid test in order to enter a church, the Holy Synod, the Church's executive organ, announced that it does not have the wherewithal to conduct such checks at the entrances of Church's.

Thus, Montenegrin government put itself in the service of the forces of this world, which exist only and exclusively on polarizations, the patriarch stated.

The Holy Synod released a pertinent statement on the issue

Archbishop Ieronymos on Tuesday called on all Metropolitans, the heads of ecclesiastical districts, to help ensure the diligent observance of all health safety restrictions during Epiphany Day church services on Wednesday.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America held a Virtual Town Hall with the metropolitans of the Eparchial Synod, the Bishops and over 325 members of the national clergy in order to discuss the magnitude of the novel coronavirus pandemic crisis, his office announced on Monday.

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.

The Orthodox Archdiocese of America has given its blessing to all among the faithful who, in these unprecedented times, choose not to attend church.

The Archdiocese explained that such a decision in no way constitutes a sin, but, on the contrary, is "an act of love and responsibility for the protection of one's self and their fellow human beings."