The Church of Cyprus said Thursday it would not be serving Holy Communion with plastic spoons and stood by its position to use the same metal spoon it always had for the entire congregation.
In a statement, the Church said it did not accept the use of plastic spoons as outlined in health ministry guidelines.
“Holy Communion will remain untainted as is has been for thousands of years,” Church spokesman Michalis Spyrou said.
The Church said however, it would accept measures to have one person per eight square metres at services.
Icons will be continually sanitised, and antidoron – bread blessed by a priest – will be served in plastic bags.