Clergy, faithful in Greece want Churches open for Christmas

Heightened concerns have again surfaced within the Church of Greece’s ranks, as well as among the faithful in the predominately Orthodox nation, on exactly what restrictions will be imposed during the upcoming Christmas services, given that a partial nationwide lockdown in the country, imposed to prevent exposure to the coranavirus, extends to Dec. 14.
A Greek government spokesman on Monday said communication between the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Ieronymos, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is now pending.
A day earlier, the government said a variety of restrictions and bans will be extended to Jan. 7, including the opening of schools and restaurants.
According to reports, the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece wants churches and chapels to open to worshippers after Dec. 14, whereas other sources claim the government wants to extend a prohibition on Church-going by worshippers until Dec. 21.
In a related development, the Metropolitan of Patras, His Eminence Chrysostomos, has addressed a letter to the Greek premier, expressing a popular demand by the faithful, as he said, for worshippers to be allowed to attend daily services with all public health and assembly protocols in place.