Metropolitan Agathangelos of Fanari asked the hierarchs and the clergy to perform a memorial service in all churches and monasteries of the Church of Greece on Sunday the 20th of December for all those who passed away due to the pandemic.
The Metropolitan stressed, “Christmas is not just a time of joy and celebration. It is also a time of mourning and sorrow.” ” At the moment, the Church is called to reach the heart of our people,” he said.
Moreover, he pointed out: “At this time, everyone, especially in our area, is concerned if the churches will open at Christmas. The media have been discussing this particular matter as well as whether stores and retail will open. The size of them are incomparable and, therefore, experts are not able to make a distinction. They also have been discussing the following: how many people are allowed to celebrate together at Christmas and New Year. But everyone is ignoring the fact that about 4,000 of our fellow human beings have lost their lives due to the virus. In other cases, we would have declared a day of national mourning for the loss of so many people. Christmas is not just a time of joy and celebration. It is also a time of mourning and sorrow. That is why I politely and discreetly asked the hierarchs and the clergy, to perform a memorial service in all churches and monasteries of the Church of Greece on Sunday the 20th of December for all those who passed away due to the pandemic. It will be a relief and consolation for the families of those who have been mourning. At this moment, the Church is called to reach the heart of our people, their soul, their feelings, and the memories they have of the people they lost.”
Source: ANA-MPA