“The birth of Christ is true philanthropy. Let us become, this year, in a more sacrificial way than ever before, bearers of the love that springs from the Cave of Bethlehem. This love claims the whole world. I wish everyone a merry and blessed Christmas! said Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and all Greece, in his Christmas message, which was read today in all the churches of Athens.
In the morning, the Archbishop performed the Mystery of Holy Communion at the Metropolitan Church of Athens, where all the necessary COVID-19 protective measures were observed.
The Archbishop’s message for Christmas was read by the Protosyncellus of the Archdiocese, Archimandrite Barnabas Theocharis, while, after the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop wished everyone Merry and Blessed Christmas.
All the necessary health measures are observed in all the churches of Greece. After all, having as a priority the protection of human health and life, the Holy Synod urged through announcements and encyclicals all the dioceses, parishes, monasteries and institutions, and the clergy and laity, to strictly comply with the legislative measures inside and outside the churches. At the same time, in order to avoid the mass gathering in the same place for a long time, the Metropolises have decided to hold more and simple Divine Liturgies within the same day.
