In an interview to The National Herald, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain talked about the new situation resulting from the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Archbishop Nikitas used the expression “ghost town” to describe things, and said that there is an atmosphere of uncertainty, as no one knows what will happen.
Churches and schools have closed, businesses and shops are not open, and long lines can be seen in banks, supermarkets, and other places. Along with the uncertainty about the future, there is an atmosphere of fear and distrust. “To all these people, we try to offer hope – Jesus Christ.”
He added that there were cases among the clergy and the parishes of the Archdiocese, which, however, he said, were doing quite well.
He talked about his recent teleconference with the Religious Leaders of England. “The most important result of the meeting was to issue a message of hope to all the people of the United Kingdom. People seem to be losing hope and we are called to give assurance. There are those who suffer from depression and isolation, we must assist them to face and overcome their issues. The other leaders listened as I spoke of the need to also help the clergy, who become tired, as they deal with all the crises, problems and issues of the others.”
He said that people were following the government’s instructions, and there were some encouraging signals during the crisis, such as that hundreds of thousands of volunteers were stepped forward to assist in hospitals, care centers, and elsewhere. What else could we ask for in these difficult times?”