“We are asking for the cooperation of the Church. We are hoping that the Church will reconsider its position,” alternate government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni said on Tuesday on Alpha radio, concerning the Holy Synod’s defiance of a government decision banning church attendance on the Epiphany holiday, as a protective measure against Covid-19.
She confirmed that a meeting was held between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the ceremonies to swear in the new members of cabinet.
“Every person must assume their share of responsibility and that also applies to the Church, which is affected and must put up with the consequences of the pandemic, as all of society must do,” Peloni added.
She noted that the government has been in constant consultation with the Church since the start of the pandemic and admitted that the Church, on its part, has shown a very responsible attitude on the whole. As for the reason for the government’s decision, she explained that the return to the previous restrictions was deemed necessary to protect the epidemiological picture ahead of the priority given to reopening schools, noting that everyone must cooperation for this purpose.
— amna.gr