Lockdown’ against non-essential travel in Greece; Orthodoxy by the side of the faithful

Global efforts to reduce people’s exposure to the coronavirus continue on an intensive pace continued to dominate all of the world’s attention at the start of the week.
The Greek government, for instance, on Sunday evening announced a series of new restrictive measures to stop the non-essential movement of people around the east Mediterranean country. The “lockdown” was in force as of 6 a.m. on Monday.

Essentially, only those traveling to and from necessary workplaces, and during business hours, can travel.

Other exclusions are for grocery shopping, a doctor’s appointment or to the pharmacy, attending a person in need and even attending a funeral, wedding or baptism, but only in a limited number.

People can also take a walk, exercise in public spaces or take their pet out, but up to two people at a time, and keeping a distance.

In all cases, people in public spaces must have registered with an online or mobile telephone platform, or, in at the very least, carry an affirmation stating their reason for being out and their particulars. Also anyone out in public must bear a police ID or a passport.

It’s amid the unprecedented public health crisis and pandemic that Orthodoxy around the world must remain close to the flock, even if it’s from a distance.

The Primates of the world’s Orthodox Churches, hierarchs, clerics and monks have from the very first moment comforted and encouraged the faithful to persevere; to emerge with an even stronger faith in God.

All of the world’s Orthodox Churches have also called on the faithful to strictly follow public health officials’ guidelines and directives and to trust science.

As the Archbishop of America, His Eminence Elpidophoros, stressed last week: “…As Christians, we must take responsibility for the well being of others… With our faith in God, we can overcome these present difficulties, using the rational, scientific knowledge that we possess through our God-given intelligence.”

In a related development, and as reported by the Orthodoxia news agency, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, along with hierarchs on the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece, has requested that the state ease a restriction on the partaking of the Holy Eucharist in cathedrals, underling that the Holy Communion is a potent medicine against this threatening illness.

Still in Greece, Metropolises around the country are seeking ways to continue and increase their support and charitable activities, especially in delivering meals to people in need.

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