Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Greek Church Tells Priests to Ignore Pandemic Closure Order
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
January 4, 2021

Share

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s powerful Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship under a weeklong drive to tighten virus restrictions before the planned reopening of schools.

The conservative Church’s ruling body issued a statement Monday directing priests to admit worshippers during indoor services for Wednesday’s feast of the Epiphany. The Holy Synod said it “does not accept” the new restrictions, in force from Jan. 3-10, and would send a letter of protest to the center-right government.

The government responded with a mildly worded statement voicing hope that the Church “will realize, as it has so far responsibly done, how crucial this time is for (Greek) society.”

It added that Greeks are still free to offer individual prayers in church, but not to attend services. This had not been specified when the restrictions were announced on Jan. 2.

After Greece saw a spike of new COVID-19 infections and deaths in November, when intensive care units bordered on full capacity, authorities imposed a second lockdown, closing schools and suspending much economic and social activity. The measures were partially relaxed before Christmas, when churches and nonessential shops were allowed to resume some activities — albeit with limitations — together with hair salons and nail parlors.

All these have now been closed for a week, while priests are allowed to conduct Epiphany church services but without admitting worshippers. The restrictions were aimed to contain the virus spread so schools could reopen after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, following a two-month hiatus because of the pandemic.

The education ministry said Monday that in-person nursery and primary classes will start again on Jan. 11, while secondary schools will resume online classes on Jan. 8 with a view to fully reopening when possible.

Church Functionaries Have Shown a Mixed Response to Pandemic Containment Measures

The Holy Synod statement said the government should stick to the Christmas relaxation, which had followed negotiations with the Church, arguing that clerics had faithfully observed all agreed pandemic containment measures over the holidays.

Church functionaries have shown a mixed response to pandemic containment measures, ranging from lukewarm support to virulent opposition.

The Church’s moderate leader, Archbishop Ieronymos — who himself contracted and recovered from COVID-19 — has backed the country’s ongoing vaccination drive. But a conservative bishop made headlines after Christmas by railing against the vaccines, telling parishioners he had been informed that they included material harvested from aborted fetuses.

Greece on Monday started to vaccinate retirement home residents and workers, with authorities saying that drive would be completed by Jan. 20. Separately, health workers have already started to be vaccinated.

Nearly 10,000 people have received the jab since Dec. 27, more than half of them on Monday, while the target for the end of January is 220,000.

Meanwhile, daily new confirmed infections remained within three digits — 427 on Monday — a considerable improvement from a high of over 3,500 in November. Health officials reported 54 new deaths, compared with a daily record of 120 in November.

The overall death toll in the country of nearly 11 million is about 5,000.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Muslim NY Mayoral Candidate Reports Threats, Jewish Ohio Lawmaker Threatened Separately

DON'T MISS

It’s Final. No Live Horse Racing at Big Fresno Fair in 2025

DON'T MISS

Clover Is Eager to Bring You Good Luck and Great Joy

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Seek Help Identifying 7-Eleven Robbery Suspects

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Scraps Cannabis Advisory Group, Extends Advance Peace Funding

DON'T MISS

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

DON'T MISS

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

DON'T MISS

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

DON'T MISS

Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push

DON'T MISS

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

UP NEXT

Netanyahu Says Fall of Iran’s Leadership Not a Goal but Could Be a Result

UP NEXT

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

UP NEXT

Trump to Decide on US Action in Israel-Iran Conflict Within 2 Weeks, White House Says

UP NEXT

Iran Held Direct Talks With US Amid Intensifying Conflict With Israel, Diplomats Say

UP NEXT

As Death Toll Rises, Gazans Make Life-Risking Journeys to Seek Food

UP NEXT

EU Increasingly Resigned to 10% Baseline Tariff in US Trade Talks, European Sources Say

UP NEXT

Hurricane Erick Strengthens to Category 3 off Mexico’s Pacific Coast

UP NEXT

Israel Hits Nuclear Sites, Iran Strikes Hospital as War Escalates

UP NEXT

Xi Says China ‘Deeply Worried’ About Israel-Iran Conflict, Urges De-Escalation

UP NEXT

US Strike on Iran Would Bring Risks at Every Turn

Fresno Police Seek Help Identifying 7-Eleven Robbery Suspects

4 hours ago

Fresno Council Scraps Cannabis Advisory Group, Extends Advance Peace Funding

4 hours ago

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

4 hours ago

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

5 hours ago

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

5 hours ago

Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push

6 hours ago

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

6 hours ago

Netanyahu Says Fall of Iran’s Leadership Not a Goal but Could Be a Result

6 hours ago

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

7 hours ago

Sen. Alex Padilla: This Is How an Administration Acts When It’s Afraid

7 hours ago

Muslim NY Mayoral Candidate Reports Threats, Jewish Ohio Lawmaker Threatened Separately

WASHINGTON – The New York City Police Department said on Thursday its hate crime unit was probing anti-Muslim threats against mayoral ...

3 hours ago

Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani talks to people after the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary Debate at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in New York City., U.S., June 12, 2025. (Reuters File)
3 hours ago

Muslim NY Mayoral Candidate Reports Threats, Jewish Ohio Lawmaker Threatened Separately

3 hours ago

It’s Final. No Live Horse Racing at Big Fresno Fair in 2025

3 hours ago

Clover Is Eager to Bring You Good Luck and Great Joy

Fresno police are seeking the public’s help to identify two suspects involved in a May 31, 2025, robbery at a 7-Eleven on East McKinley Avenue. (Fresno PD)
4 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Help Identifying 7-Eleven Robbery Suspects

4 hours ago

Fresno Council Scraps Cannabis Advisory Group, Extends Advance Peace Funding

4 hours ago

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

5 hours ago

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

5 hours ago

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend