The Government Spokesman, Stelios Petsas, expressed the government’s concern about the incidents that took place in the previous days outside the temples in Patras and Agia Varvara, Attica.
“The government is examining the proposal by the Standing Holy Synod for the churches to operate behind closed doors during the Holy Week. However, the incidents that took place last Friday in Agia Varvara and on Sunday in Agia Triada in Patras give rise to serious concern,” said Petsas.
He added, “These incidents have nothing to do with the faithful but with the fanatics. We tell them with all due respect that our faith is not tested. Our collective maturity is being tested and the vast majority of Greeks irreproachable in this ordeal.”
The government spokesman reiterated that this year’s Easter would be different, saying, “As far as Easter is concerned, we all understand that we will not celebrate this year the great celebration of Christianity and Hellenism as we usually do. We will not go to our villages, we will not roast lamb in our backyards, we will not go to our churches, we follow the experts’ instructions so that we can all celebrate together Easter next year in accordance with our mores, customs and traditions.”
Transfer of the Holy Fire is a “complex task”
During today’s briefing of the political journalists, the government spokesman was asked about the transfer of the Holy Fire to Greece, which he described as a “complex task,” he clarified that the Greek government was not yet able to set out the details of the process.
“What concerns us very much now is the Holy Fire which is a really complex task: the transfer of the Holy Fire, mainly with its distribution all over Greece on the Easter Day, and the government’s communication with the competent services in Israel. Therefore, much difficult work lies ahead of us and this is what we are focusing on,” said Petsas.
Asked to answer another question, he noted “What is really a complex task and I am not in a position to answer you categorically at the moment is how we will ensure that the Holy Fire will come and how it will be properly distributed to all over the country. That is why we are working carefully in consultation with the Church of Greece and we will soon be able to announce the measures we will take.”
