The Archdiocese of Australia this week announced a temporary suspension in public worship at its parishes in the greater Melbourne area and throughout the state of Victoria, following a recent and worrying spike in the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the area.
His Eminence, Archbishop of Australia Makarios, issued a relevant encyclical to the Greek Orthodox hierarchs in the state of Victoria, bemoaning the need to again close cathedrals to the faithful as part of efforts to prevent exposure to the Covid-19 virus.
At the same time, the Archbishop said all church services, commemorations of saints’ feast days and the Divine Liturgies will continue uninterrupted, officiated by the parish priest and with at least one chanter.