A Joint Ministerial Order that bans the performance of all sorts of liturgies and religious services from 16.3.2020 to 30.3.2020, as a a preventive action for the protection of public health, in all places of religious worship (temples, chapels, mosques, etc. of any kind and of any legal, canonical and generally religious status) of any doctrine and religion, whatever their size and capacity, throughout the Greek territory, has been isued.
It is recalled that this order came after the announcement of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece which suspends all worship services except Sunday Divine Liturgies, “which will be held as usual between 7-8 o’clock in the morning”.
According to the ministerial order, the attendance of believers is allowed, for a short period of time, only for individual prayer in the place of worship, observing the proportion of one person per 10 sq.m., and at least at a distance of two (2) meters from each other.
The calculation of the preceding subparagraph covers only the surface of the main / usable area that serves the worship needs and does not include surfaces of any other contiguous main areas of the property that serve non-worship activities.
The operatos of the places of worship must ensure that the above proportion of pilgrims per square meter and the distance between the pilgrims, as well as all hygiene measures adopted by the competent authorities, are respected at all times.
At the entrances of the places of worship there should be an apparatus with disinfectant/antiseptic or equivalent product for free use by the faithful.
Holy Monasteries, Convents and other spaces of monastic life within the Greek territory during the above period will not accept the public and faithful in organized or individual pilgrimage visits.
The prohibitions on visits and all the necessary preventive measures concerning the Holy Monasteries of the Athonite State are taken by decision of the Civil Governor of Mount Athos, upon prior notice to the Holy Community.
