The Holy Feast of the Monastery of Panagia Katerinou of the Metropolis of Aetolia and Acarnania was solemnly celebrated in Makryneia on September 8, Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
Metropolitan Kosmas of Aetolia and Acarnania officiated the Orthros and presided over the festal Divine Liturgy who proclaimed the Divine Word.
However, a statement of the Metropolitan caused a sensation, who, among other things, opposed the use of face mask in the churches saying: “My dear brother, God does not let you be infected in the church. God does not infect! We need to understand this.”
The excerpt from the sermon of the Metropolitan of Aetolia and Acarnania:
“Orthodox Christians must not lose our faith today, as we see so much taking place around us. Today we are told to enter the church wearing face masks so as not to become infected. To whom do we get closer when we go to the church?
To a weak one? We get closer to the Almighty God. In the churches, our ancestors knelt, prayed fervently, and exorcized infectious diseases, dangers, revolutions, wars and enemies and everything. They went to the same churches, and now we are afraid to go to these churches because, they say, “we are in danger.”
What would the Virgin Mary do? Would She be afraid? But the Virgin Mary stands for us in the church, and we will not go to the church to kiss Her holy icon? They tell us: “Do not kiss the icons.” But the Virgin Mary gives her grace. The Virgin Mary gives God’s grace and blessing. Will the Virgin Mary transmit is any illness? We witnessed so many miracles in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary. Are we afraid to go and venerate in order not to transmit diseases?
My dear brother, God does not let you be infected in the church. God does not infect! We need to understand this. It is a holy place. ‘The church is heaven,’ says Saint Cosmas of Aetolia. “It’s the altar of God.'”
Source: messologhinews.gr