Public healthcare guidelines, such as “social distancing”, must still be adhered to, Mitsotakis said, during a nationally televised address.
According to reports, the assurances offered by the Holy Synod of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece, and by the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, that all public health precautions and guidelines will be strictly followed during church-going, were taken into serious consideration by the committee of experts set up by the Greek government to deal with the pandemic.
As mentioned, social distancing, a cap on the number of worshipers inside churches, based on the floor size of each cathedral, regular disinfection of surfaces inside places of worship, and disinfectant liquid at the entrances of churches will be in place.
Regarding the issue of the Holy Communion, the Church of Greece is uncompromising in its position, similar to all of the world’s Orthodox Churches, that the Holy Eucharist can never become an issue up for negotiation.
At the same time, reports state that weddings and baptisms will be held with only close family members present, and with precautions in place.