Public worship is temporarily suspended in eight churches in Sydney, particularly in areas where a worrying increase in COVID-19 cases has been reported.
In an encyclical to the clergy, Archbishop Makarios of Australia said: “It is with great sadness that I follow the unpleasant developments regarding the increased cases of the coronavirus which have occurred in recent days in Sydney.
It is for this reason that I am again compelled to take strict measures to ensure public health, specifically in four Sydney Local Government affected areas.
With pain of soul and, at the same time, with a sense of pastoral responsibility, I am announcing that public worship is to be suspended in our Orthodox Churches that are located in Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and the City of Sydney Councils.”
It is clarified that the suspension of public worship means that the Churches will be closed to the faithful. However, all the services, the feasts of the Saints and the Divine Liturgies will regularly be performed only by the priest and the cantor.
Sacraments and funerals, if possible, should be conducted in other parishes. If this however is not possible, then they should be performed with only close family members present.
Read the full message of the Archbishop of Australia:
To the Gracious Clergy and Monastic Brotherhoods
of the Archiepiscopal District of SydneyIn Sydney.
Beloved Children in Christ,
It is with great sadness that I follow the unpleasant developments regarding the increased cases of the coronavirus which have occurred in recent days in Sydney.It is for this reason that I am again compelled to take strict measures to ensure public health, specifically in four Sydney Local Government affected areas.
With pain of soul and, at the same time, with a sense of pastoral responsibility, I am announcing that public worship is to be suspended in our Orthodox Churches that are located in Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and the City of Sydney Councils which are the following:
- Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos Redfern,
- Dormition of Our Lady Redfern,
- Holy Trinity Surry Hills,
- Saint Sophia and Her Three Daughters Taylor Square,
- Saints Constantine and Helen Newtown,
- Saint Sophia (The Holy Wisdom) Paddington,
- Saint Spyridon Kingsford,
- Saint George Rosebay.
It must be clarified that the suspension of public worship means that our Churches will be closed to the faithful.
However, all services, the commemoration of saints’ feast days, and the Divine Liturgies will be performed normally but only by the priest and the chanter.
Sacraments and funerals, if possible, should be conducted in other parishes. If this however is not possible, then they should be performed with only close family members present.
I urge you to comply with these specific instructions by properly guiding the Administrative Committees of the above-mentioned holy Parishes and, at the same time, I fervently request that you extend your prayers to our benevolent God, Whose intervention all of humanity awaits.
With fervent love in Christ and with much respect.
25th day of June, 2021Archbishop MAKARIOS
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
