Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias referred to the upheavals caused by the coronavirus pandemic in all aspects of life, and, therefore, in church life.
The Metropolitan, speaking to the newspaper National Herald, stressed that “the periods of Great Lent and Easter were painful for the Clergy and the people, as they were deprived of worship and of the Communion of the faithful during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.”
Metropolitan Ignatios said that in the midst of the situation new ideas arose and original initiatives were taken by capable parish workers, that is the clergy and laity, in respect to the Communion and spiritual guidance of the people.
Regarding the measures taken to stem the spread of the coronavirus that affect church life, he stressed: “We have chosen to trust and obey the advice of experts and the Government, which is in charge of managing such crises. As a Church, in Greece, but also locally, we advised our people not to be afraid, but to be careful and to take the necessary precautionary measures.”
“We reject any conspiracy theories. That is why we emphasised from the very beginning that the faith was not threatened, but, according to our Ecumenical Patriarch, the faithful were. We have taken the necessary measures, we have shielded our churches and we believe that the places of worship are absolutely safe because the people of God are full of love and, therefore, respect the health and safety for their own sake and for the sake of their fellow human beings,” he added.
Referring to the Greek community in America, Metropolitan of Demetrias stressed, “The Greek community is the favourite member of our family, who emigrated, worked hard and is now called to enlighten the modern world with the Greek and Orthodox values and traditions.”