The churches in Greece will be open for individual prayer, while services will be allowed with the presence of up to 25 believers in the churches and up to 50 believers in the metropolitan churches.
This decision came after a communication between Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which was approved by both the Standing Holy Synod of the Church of Greece and the team of epidemiologists who advise the government.
According to the announcement issued by the Standing Holy Synod, which met online today under the chairmanship of Archbishop Ieronymos, the Metropolitans and the 9,000 clergy are asked to observe the measures in order to set an example for all Greeks.
The announcement states that the Holy Temples will remain open for the faithful both for veneration and personal prayer and for attendance during the main Divine Liturgies of the three great Feasts of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Christmas, Circumcision of Christ, Epiphany), observed of the provided distances and measures to avoid overcrowding (1 person per 15 sq.m., with a minimum distance of 2 meters between them and with the obligatory use of a mask throughout the rituals), with a permitted number of believers in small temples of 25 persons and in metropolitan temples of 50 persons”.
Also, the joint ministerial decision issued stipulates that there will be no processions outside the temples and the sanctification of the waters on the day of Epiphany will be performed inside the temples and not outside.
